Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids has stopped all talk that the Argentina test match this weekend in Buenos Aires serves as a “warm-up” match for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry - the much-anticipated tour and test series against the All Blacks.
While the game will primarily be about giving several injured Springbok stars a chance to show they are ready to face the All Blacks - including the most-capped Springbok, Eben Etzebeth, and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu - the Boks very much see this as another game in their test season and desperately want the momentum that comes with a victory.
That is why, while many in South Africa are rightly focused on the Greatest Rivalry Tour - which kicks off on Friday night when the All Blacks face the DHL Stormers in Cape Town - the Boks know they have to be 100 per cent focused on the task at hand - facing a tough Los Pumas team.
LOS PUMAS WILL BE AT THEIR STRONGEST
Argentina have traditionally started their season slowly but are normally at their strongest in the first game of the Rugby Championship, which is not being played this year but would be right about now.
They have rightly caused upsets in both Australia and New Zealand and are a very dangerous team to play, especially in their backyard.
The Boks know this all too well, and that is why they aren’t entertaining talk about the All Blacks just yet.
“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,” Davids told the media conference.
“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.”
It was clear that he wanted to get the message out that this is a massive game for the Boks, even though their supporters’ attention may be elsewhere.
MASSIVE GAME
“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.”
Davids was positive about the return of locks Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, the double World Cup-winning veterans who will be back from injury this weekend and the rest of the players who need a good game to convince head coach Rassie Erasmus they are ready to face the All Blacks.
INJURED PLAYERS CHOMPING AT THE BIT
“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.”
He warned that Argentina would not be easy, and that the Boks are seeing their challenge as a massive one at this stage of the season.
“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 Boks will name their team on Tuesday night.