Nienaber emotional, Williams hopeful as Springboks tackle Pumas

Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber will be emotional and scrumhalf Grant Williams hopeful when South Africa confront Argentina on Saturday in a Rugby Championship final-round match.

The match in Johannesburg will be the final Test at home for the South Africans before three warm-up games prepare them to defend the Rugby World Cup title in France from 10 September.

"It will be a bit emotional on Saturday," admitted media-shy Nienaber as the clash with the Pumas will be his last international on home soil before leaving his post after the global showpiece.

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Nienaber, who succeeded World Cup-winning coach Rassie Erasmus in 2020, is joining Irish giants Leinster following the World Cup.

After almost two decades working with Erasmus, the expert in defence tactics had his personal moment of glory by leading the Springboks to a 2021 series win over the British & Irish Lions.

"Beating the Lions after losing the first Test was special, but the ultimate dream is lifting the World Cup trophy," says Nienaber.

"At one stage my ambition was to be a physiotherapist in Bloemfontein. Now I am head coach of a wonderful team. They make me so happy."

Nienaber works closely with SA Rugby's director of rugby Erasmus, continuing a partnership that began in 2005 and included spells with the Stormers and Munster.

"Rassie and I have always worked as a team. I pick his brains all the time," he said of Erasmus, who transformed the Springboks from a laughing stock in 2017 to world champions within two years.

Among nine changes Nienaber made to a starting line-up well beaten in New Zealand in mid July was giving Williams his first start after three appearances off the