Springboks wary of Los Pumas but determined to chase historic victory in Argentina

The Boks have never won six in a row in the Rugby Championship, and they've never won the tournament with a match to spare, but they have the opportunity to achieve both of these feats against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday and turn next weekend's finale against the Pumas in Nelspruit into a celebratory affair.

Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Salmaan Moerat fronted the media on Friday on the eve of the match at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades after the team had made the journey from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero on Wednesday night. They visited the stadium for the first time for their captain's run on Friday afternoon.

Looking ahead to Saturday's clash, Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat praised the progress of Argentina under head coach Felipe Contepomi but warned that the Springboks are focused on their own goals and ambitions.

"They are a great side and they have a good identity, but that said, there's also another milestone we can achieve this weekend (winning six matches in a row for the first time ever in the Rugby Championship)," said Moerat.

"So, although our focus is on sticking to our systems and delivering a top-quality performance, we believe if we do that correctly, hopefully we can come away with the desired result.

"We are ready for what they'll bring, and we see this as a massive occasion for the team."

Stick added: "We are playing at a new stadium and in a new city, and we are looking forward to the challenge. We have our goals as a team, and the two extra days in Stellenbosch allowed us to implement a few things that we want to bring into the game."

Moerat was happy with the team's preparation for the clash.

"Our preparation has been good. We had two days in Stellenbosch, which gave us a little bit of leeway and a good three days in Buenos Aires before travelling to Santiago del Estero on Wednesday night, so we had good time to settle in here before our captains run, and we're excited about the challenge ahead."

Moerat also made a special mention of fellow lock Eben Etzebeth, who will match Victor Matfield's record as the most capped Springbok player of all time with 127 Test caps when he takes the field on Saturday, and said he was an inspiration to the entire team and especially the younger players.

"When I started playing at Western Province, Eben was there and I had the pleasure of playing a few games with him," said Moerat. "The record he will match this weekend is a testament to the player he is on and off the field.

"What has really stood out for me is his ability to perform consistently, and that really inspires us as the younger players because it's something we can really learn from."

With the passionate support for the team from back home, Stick said South Africa's rugby faithful will continue to be a big driving force for the team this weekend.

"We want to keep growing as a team and to ensure that we can do our bit to leave the country in a better place," said Stick. "It's massive motivation for us for what the team does for the country."

The coach added: "In fact, there are many similarities between the SA and Argentina teams and their people, and the passion the sides play with, so we know it's going to be a tough grind, and it's vital that we give them the respect they deserve.

"They've had good results this season and they even beat New Zealand away from home, so if we don't treat them with respect it could be a long day for us. That said, if we stick to our systems, hopefully the result will follow."

The match kicks off at 23h10 SA time.

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