Mbombela - The Springboks go into Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against Argentina (5.05pm) with the hope of continuing their winning ways under coach Allister Coetzee.
It was in the same competition, albeit a shortened version of it, that the Springboks sunk to one of their darkest hours, losing to Argentina for the first time at home and finishing last in the four-nation tournament.
While the Springboks would have redeemed themselves with two consecutive victories against the South Americans thereafter, they will need to exorcise the demons of Durban at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit today.
There is still a bitter after-taste following that Test in Durban last year and they have spoken of the hurt and pain they still carry with them.
Under Coetzee, the Springboks are trying to embark on a new path and one that will ultimately be judged by the outcome of the Rugby Championship.
As shaky a start as Coetzee endured during the June Inbound series against Ireland, there were glimpses of how devastating the Springboks can be in their valiant fightback to win the series after losing the opening Test.
It is from that recent past that Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss wants his team to move on from but, he says, the Durban disaster must serve as a reminder of how dangerous the opponents can be.
At the same time, there is a lingering reminder of the Springboks' not-so-glittering record at Mbombela Stadium, where they have struggled to shake off what should have been easy opposition in Scotland and Wales in recent years.
“The coach said this week the results of the past won’t help or affect us. Last year’s game against Argentina and games in the past here against Wales and Scotland mean nothing,” said Strauss on Friday. “We know they are going to play with a lot of confidence because of that, and we will take that into consideration, but if you go onto the field in a Test match, you are always fully prepared and give it your all. We know well what lies ahead. We know it will be a physical game against Argentina.”
Beyond being wary of the ghosts of the past returning to haunt the Springboks, it will be paramount that they lay down a marker for the remainder of the competition by dictating terms against Argentina.
The much-vaunted running game that seems to be the buzzword among coaches and players will have to be rolled out and not in glimpses but in truckloads if their journey in the competition is to stand a realistic chance of producing silverware.
It will start upfront where the men in the blue-and-white hoops will provide a stern test with their renowned bajada scrum and their unrelenting contesting in the line-outs and breakdowns.
Argentina have the personnel to be confrontational with the Springboks and they could easily get under their skin but it will come down to key decision-making in all facets of the game that will swing the game in favour of the home side, according to Strauss.
The Springboks have been guilty of making poor decisions in their three-Test series against the Irish, which resulted in them playing into the hands of the opposition.
While Strauss will be burdened with the usual pressures of making the right decisions for the team, much of the decisions made by the halfback pairing of Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies along with new fullback Johan Goosen will have a major influence on the scoreboard.
“We’re moving towards making the right decisions. It is starting to sound like a cliche, especially in the last year when a lot of teams are using those phrases, but it is also a situation you grow into. To make the right decisions at the right time. If you are in your own 22, and it’s on, then you need to see that. You need to have confidence and back yourself and make that call to run from there. But if it's not on, then you need to make good conservative decisions when you have to. I wouldn’t say we want to play a conservative game plan but we want to focus it on good decisions,” he said.
Saturday Star