Boks better acclimatised than previously in Argentina

The Springboks have had an up and down record in Argentina in recent years but skipper Siya Kolisi is adamant that if there is a hiccup in the penultimate Castle Lager Championship test in Buenos Aires on Saturday it won’t be down to lack of good preparation.

The Boks lost in Mendoza in Rassie Erasmus’s first season in charge before bouncing back in 2019 to score an emphatic win that wrapped up that year’s Rugby Championship title, something that was a big signpost on the road to World Cup glory a few months later.

Kolisi as well as assistant coach Mzwandile Stick also experienced defeat in Argentina in Allister Coetzee’s first season in charge.

So for them it has been a roller-coaster ride when it comes to playing in the South American country.

But there is something different this time - the Boks have been there longer than they ever have before ahead of a one-off test in Argentina.

“We came over here straight from Australia so we have been here nearly two weeks and that has really helped us a lot to adapt to the weather and those kind of things,” said Kolisi on the eve of a game where the Boks will go in search of a full house of five log points so that the following week’s game at Kings Park is a Championship decider.

“Previously we came in and out. We arrived here in the week of the game and never really had time to acclimatise. I like to think this time we are in a really good frame of mind. We have had a good week of training and have been focused on what we need to do.

"We’ve had a chance to experience Buenos Aires and the people here like we haven’t in the past, and that along with the time zone adaptation has made this a good trip. We won’t have any time zone issues. We are properly acclimatised and adapted and really looking forward to the game.”

Buenos Aires is a vibrant city and the Boks haven’t been there in a while, as the All Blacks have tended to play the games in Argentina’s largest city. Kolisi says that has been an interesting experience.

“It has been amazing to see the similarities between them and our country, it has really been an eye-opening experience,” said the Bok captain.

What is always a challenging experience wherever a game is played in Argentina is being the away team, and both Kolisi and Stick know they will be up against more than just 23 Pumas players in Saturday’s game.

“We know that the Argentina nation is passionate about their team and the Argentina team is passionate about their people and about their country. They’re a bit like us so there will be a lot of emotion behind what they do, they will be playing for their supporters,” said Stick.

“We know that if you don’t pitch up on the day against Argentina (in these modern times) you can be punished. It happened to Australia where they were given 40 points. That is the main challenge for us, we’ve got to be switched on from the off and start with proper intensity. There are many mixed challenges we are facing but we feel we have prepared for them.”

If the Boks win with a try-scoring bonus point they will move level with the All Blacks, who effectively dropped a point in Thursday’s close Bledisloe Cup thriller in Melbourne, on log points.

The Kiwis do though have a handy 29 point advantage when it comes to points differential, so the Boks will also be looking to eat into that so they have a reasonable chance of bidding for the Championship trophy on the final day.

The Boks’ final game is against Argentina in Durban whereas the All Blacks play the return clash with the Wallabies at Eden Park earlier in the day.