Lood v Lavanini: Bok-baby faced assassin respects Pumas' physical yellow-card magnet

In Durban

Argentina lock Tomas Lavanini has built himself a neat reputation of being a walking yellow card, but his Bok adversary Lood de Jager put this down to the passion he displays for his country.

Lavanini being yellow carded is as certain as death and taxes, meaning Los Pumas generally have to plan for the 10 minutes without him on the field.

They can ill-afford to have him carded should he play when they face the Springboks in their critical Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park on Saturday.

De Jager, one of the more disciplined locks going around in world rugby, said Lavanini's physicality was important for the Pumas' cause, and remains an excellent player despite his disciplinary issues.

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"He's a very physical player and I think he's one of the most physical locks in the world," De Jager said.

"He puts everything on the line for his country and at times, he does get it wrong. As players, there's a certain level of respect we have for each other.

"He's played more than 70 Tests for his country, and you have to be good to play that amount of Tests.

"He brings a lot to their pack."

De Jager has generally been a quiet achiever for the Boks, but has stood out in a pack of serious excellence this season.

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse

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