Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids has pushed back firmly against suggestions that Saturday's one-off Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires is little more than a stepping stone to the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand.
"If you come to Argentina with the mentality of seeing it as a warm-up game, you would make a big mistake," Davids said on Monday, a day after the squad arrived in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Sunday morning. The Boks resumed preparations with their first field session on Monday.
Davids described Los Pumas as a formidable home side with clear ambitions of their own. "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. They have their own goals. They want to win the game, improve, and prove they belong on the biggest stage."
The return of Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager from injury was welcomed by Davids, who also highlighted the return of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu among others. "It's fantastic to have Eben and Lood back. They're experienced players, and they mean a lot in our system."
Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, also back from injury, spoke candidly about his spell on the sidelines. "The injury was obviously tough, especially with the Boks playing, but it gave me a lot of motivation to work hard to be here," he said, adding that the experience gave him the opportunity to upskill and improve his conditioning.
Rassie Erasmus will name his matchday squad on Tuesday. The Test at Estadio José Amalfitani kicks off at 21h10 SA time and is live on SuperSport.