Springboks bracing themselves for spicy Salta welcome

24 August 2016 - 13:51 By Craig Ray
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The Springboks are under no illusions that they will receive a hostile welcome when they take on the Pumas in Salta on Saturday in their second Rugby Championship match against Argentina.

Springboks during The Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Mbombela Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Nelspruit, South Africa.
Springboks during The Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Mbombela Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Nelspruit, South Africa.
Image: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images

The north western city is located at just over 1000m above sea level‚ half the altitude of Johannesburg and despite being a popular tourist attraction‚ the reception won’t be so warm for the Boks.

Assistant coach Johann van Graan is the only member of the coaching staff with first-hand experience of the city and he knows that the team will have to brace for an onslaught on and off the field.

“Salta presents totally different conditions to what we played in‚ in Nelspruit last weekend‚” Van Graan said from Buenos Aires‚ where the Boks are based.

“We’ve spoken about the last time we went there. It’s desert like – very hot and dry. It’s intimidating with barbed wire around the field but it’s also a fascinating place to play Test rugby.

“The Argentinean people really support their team with lots of singing and chanting. The field is also slightly smaller. It can be very hot and the last time we were here the fire brigade hosed fans down to cool them off. It’s different. “It will be a dry‚ quick field and both teams will come out to play rugby.”

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The Boks won that 2014 encounter 33-31 a week after they had sneaked a win by seven points over the Pumas at Loftus.

Last week the Boks scored two late tries to beat the Pumas 30-23 at the Mbombela Stadium – another seven point winning margin.

If history repeats itself‚ it will be tough in Salta. The Boks’ preparations haven’t been aided by the disruptive travel schedule to Argentina via Johannesburg and Sao Paolo.

But at least the Pumas have had to endure the same travel programme.

“It’s our first away Test of the year so we’re excited‚” Van Graan said.

“We arrived very late on Monday night and only got in one gym session on Tuesday afternoon.

“Our first field session of the week will only be on Wednesday‚ which is quite late. But on the positive side the players’ bodies will be well rested before they get back into training. “We will have two hard days on the field and a captain’s run. We will be ready.”

- TMG Digital

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