Boks face their biggest test of the year so far in the intimidating cauldron of Salta
DURBAN: Awaiting the Springbok class of 2017 is an almost season defining hurdle in the form of Argentina, at home, in hostile Salta (9.40pm kickoff). Succeed in the truculent atmosphere that is to greet the South Africans, and the path back to the top is laid out; fail, and all the fear and scepticism of 2016 will come rushing back.
When the year opened at Loftus with an emphatic, and truly polar, performance from the Boks against the travelling French, smiles returned to the faces of the supporters. The chaotic and confused Spring- boks of the year before seemed like a bad dream and a distant memory.
The smile broadened as the Boks continued in the same manner in Durban, and even in Johannesburg, despite the foot feeling like it was slightly off the gas again.
A series whitewash, an attacking intention, and a team of Springboks who were building their culture and identity back up were all very pleasing to see. But the question remained: “What happens when the big boys come knocking?”
It does not get much bigger than the Rugby Championship in terms of Test match battles. However, it was once again a good start as the Boks put the Pumas to the sword in Port Elizabeth, picking up a solid, if unspectacular 37-15 win.
The signs were there again. A tangible game plan that was adaptable – and players who could enact it. As well, players who were much more confident and motivated to try things and let the ball move in attack.
It now heads on to game five for the Boks, and things could not be any different from the last four. The odds are stacked against them as they travel far from home, the opposition is in search of retribution, the ground, and the partisan Pumas fans are all looking to break their burgeoning revival.
Jaco Kriel spoke in the week about how jet lag and the sorts shouldn’t take their toll as travelling east is a far easier than west. However, the Boks only arrived in the high altitude town of Salta, in the north west corner of Argentina, a twohour flight away from Buenos Aires, yesterday.
Preparation this week has been less than regular as the Boks were supposed to stay in Port Elizabeth until Tuesday, but ended up flying out Monday in a snap decision. Regardless of the preparation, this is the first away game of 2017.
In the Springboks’ favour however, is a good amount of continuity as they have made only one change to the Port Elizabeth team as Francois Hougaard replaces Ross Cronje, who has an ankle injury. This was the same change that was made in the third Test against France.
Continuity for a team trying to build itself up is key. In four Tests thus far, 10 players have started all of them. For coach Allister Coetzee that is a great bit of relief as the headaches of selection can wreck havoc on a coach under pressure.
Coetzee will be hopeful that injuries are kept to a minimum as the Rugby Championship goes on. It is the familiarity of the players out there, as well as an established bench, that is allowing the Boks to slowly flourish – both in attack and defence.
A win, away from home, against all the distractions and negative factors will let the Boks know they have indeed jumped their biggest hurdle this season, and it is now a sprint to the next grouping of Australasian ones.
A loss however, and the dent in confidence will be massive, especially considering the next two games are in Perth and Albany.