Salta dry, hot and hostile

Dry and hot conditions, a hostile home crowd and scheduled water breaks.

This is the bleak picture painted by Springbok forward coach Johann van Graan on what could await the Boks tonight in Salta in their Rugby Championship Test against Argentina.

After a stuttering 30-23 win over the Pumas last weekend in Nelspruit an even tougher experience is on the cards, but captain Adriaan Strauss said they expect nothing less.

“Argentina are playing in their own backyard, in front of their very passionate supporters in Salta,” said Strauss.

“We had a great week of preparations and we are ready for a massive Test match on Saturday.”

The Boks might be unbeaten on Argentina soil but have always find the going there starting with a 16-16 draw in 2012, followed by a tense 22-17 win a year later with both games played in Mendoza under former Bok coach Heyneke Meyer.

In 2014 they had their first taste of Salta when a late Morne Steyn penalty was needed to scrape through 33-31 and while they won 26-12 in Buenos Aires last year the Test was not part of the Championship but a World Cup warm-up.

While a big focus point will be the performances of flyhalf Elton Jantjies and tighthead Vincent Koch it is the experienced core of vice-captain Bryan Habana, prop Beast Mtawarira (above) in his record-equalling 80th Test, Strauss, flank Francois Louw and lock Eben Etzebeth who need to rise to the occasion.

Bok coach Allister Coetzee said there’s no doubt they need to step up in the first away Test under his watch.

“The important thing is to build continuity, it’s been a short turnaround and you couldn’t make a lot of changes. That’s why there was only one enforced change due to injury on the bench,” said Coetzee.

Kick-off: 9.40pm.