Cape Town - Springbok head coach Allister Coetzee has no illusions about the task ahead in Salta, where the Pumas will hope to exploit vulnerabilities the Boks themselves are cognisant of.
Coetzee issued the first reality check when he selected veteran 61-Test flyhalf Morne Steyn on the bench for the clash against Argentina on Saturday, forcing centre Juan de Jongh out of the match day squad.
In the Boks' last encounter against the Pumas in Salta in 2014, it was Steyn who came off the bench to help the team to a tight 33-31 win in the hostile Argentinian stomping ground, under oppressive conditions.
If on Saturday things go south for the men in green and gold, Coetzee will surely look to Steyn again to steady the ship.
As it stands, incumbent flyhalf Elton Jantjies hasn't quite lived up to his promise at Test level. “One has got to give Elton enough opportunity and support in his role,” said Coetzee.
“Only a sixth Test cap as a 10, I think his fourth as a starter, so he's also learning lessons and hopefully the progress will come and will show in this weekend.” Coetzee resisted the prospect of using Johan Goosen as a backup pivot, choosing to let him settle into his role at fullback instead.
“Both him [Jantjies] and Johan Goosen are basically attacking-minded players, I would like Johan to focus on 15 at this point in time, and not see him as a backup 10 because he's just joined us a week ago,” said the Bok coach.
“It's too important at Test level now for him to be thinking 15 and 10, and 10 is a pivotal position and you need to have a calm head there, therefore Morne Steyn can come off the bench if needed and do the job for us.
“Unfortunately, Juan de Jongh is losing out because Jesse Kriel is covering 13 and 15 for us.”
Despite the domino effect of the one unenforced change in the Springbok backline, building continuity remains important to Coetzee in his vision for the team.
Another particular area of concern for Coetzee is the way the Springboks control their games, or rather, don't. The team simply has to find a way to dictate the tempo of the game more, for sustained stages. “What our reviews showed [is] that we've been in control for the first 19 minutes and the last 11 minutes,” said Coetzee.
“We have to make sure that we control the match for longer periods.” “We've made a lot of fundamental mistakes,” Coetzee said of last week's encounter against Argentina in Nelspruit, “so the focus will be to see the accuracy for longer periods this weekend. “But we've prepared well, and there're no excuses for us, and we don't expect any favours from Argentina,” said Coetzee.
“Salta poses different challenges altogether, it's really never easy, it's tough in Salta. “The Argentinians, they're a world force in rugby, not just an improving country - they beat us last year, so it's going to be a big challenge and I think they fancy their chances.” - African News Agency (ANA)