Springboks reject ‘warm-up’ talk ahead of Argentina Test in Buenos Aires

Springboks assistant coach Deon Davids insists South Africa are treating Saturday’s Test against Argentina as a major fixture, rather than preparation for the forthcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series against New Zealand.

South Africa arrived in Argentina in the early hours of Sunday morning and began their on-field preparations with their first training session on Monday.

The one-off Test will be played in Buenos Aires, where Davids expects the Springboks to face a demanding contest against a passionate Los Pumas side.

“It’s a big Test match for us,” said Davids.

“It has never been easy, especially in Buenos Aires, so it’s important that we improve on the areas of our game in which we would like to.

“We are also very clear in terms of what we want to achieve, so our focus will be on ourselves and trying to play the way we want to against a formidable opponent.”

South Africa are scheduled to face New Zealand in the RGR series later in the season, but Davids dismissed the idea that Saturday’s match would be used simply to build towards those fixtures.

“I’ve been very clear about this, our focus is on Argentina. We want to do our best to win a Test match for South Africa, while at the same time improving our game and continuing to build for the rest of the season.

“That is the most important thing for us. We are not focusing on any other game for the rest of the year right now. This week it’s all about Argentina, and we don’t approach any game as a warm-up. Every Test match is important for our country and what we stand for as a team.”

Davids believes Argentina will present a distinct challenge on home soil, with Los Pumas expected to compete intensely until the final whistle.

“They are a very passionate team, especially at home, and it has always been a case of grinding it out right until the end against them,” he said.

“It’s never easy. If you come to Argentina with the mentality of seeing it as a warm-up game, you would make a big mistake. They have their own goals. They want to win the game, improve, and prove they belong on the biggest stage.

“They also want to build their team depth with their brilliant youngsters coming through, so it’s going to be a passionate, gutsy Test match and a good challenge, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

The Springboks have also been strengthened by the return of lock forwards Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager following injury. Davids said their availability, along with that of other players who have been sidelined, had provided a significant lift.

“It’s fantastic to have Eben and Lood back, and also the other players who were injured and haven’t played in a while, such as Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) and the other guys. They’re experienced players, and they mean a lot in our system.

“Fortunately, we had a very good build-up to this game at our camp in Johannesburg last week, so this is a fantastic opportunity for them to play, and it is important as we build towards the rest of the season.”