This will be the true test for the Springboks

The next cycle in the evolution of Heyneke Meyer's Springbok team starts in Mendoza against Argentina tomorrow, as South Africa attempt to win their first away game in the competition since 2009.

It's scarcely believable that the Boks haven't won an away Tri-Nations or Rugby Championship match since beating the All Blacks 32-29 in Hamilton four years ago.

And it's up to this settled crop of young players to enter the hostile environment where the Boks were held to a 16-16 draw last year and make a strong statement about their title credentials.

Winning the Rugby Championship requires away victories - something the All Blacks have already achieved with their five-point haul over the Wallabies in Sydney last week. That result has put pressure on the Boks, who still have to travel to Australasia.

All week Meyer has spoken of the Boks playing - and winning - six finals to win the Championship despite a tough schedule that sees them as the only team with three consecutive away games.

Meyer has been able to choose an unchanged starting XV in consecutive weeks for only the third time in his 16-match tenure so far and that has added to the Springboks' air of confidence this week.

After winning their tournament opener 73-13 at Soccer City last Saturday, they're entitled to feel confident about their prospects of toppling a Pumas team in disarray.

Last week the Boks scored nine tries, to take their season's tally to 25 in only four Tests, thanks to a dominant pack and backline that has penetration and pace.

While the home team will come out firing and play with passion and emotion from the outset, they must lack the belief that they can beat the Boks after such a chastening experience in Soweto last week.

"Argentina will be pumped up and very emotional, but as we know, you can't only play on emotion," Meyer said. "You have to be clinical, focused and accurate.

"We know it will be more difficult this weekend but we know what worked for us last week and we need to keep building on that."

The Boks have too much power and pace to come away with anything other than victory.