The Springboks will play their final game on home soil this Saturday when they host Argentina in Durban in what will be their penultimate clash in the Rugby Championship.
The last time the Springboks were in action, they romped to a 43-10 victory over the All Blacks in one of the most ruthless attacking displays seen in recent times.
With this in mind, there will be great excitement around what the Springboks could produce against Argentina this weekend, and the good news is that the weather forecast does suggest there will be suitable conditions for the team to continue their attacking evolution.
What weather can the Springboks and Pumas expect in Durban?
According to the ever-reliable WindGuru, there is expected to be typically warm weather in Durban on Saturday, with temperatures set to peak around 23°C, and it should remain around this mark by the time kick off arrives at 17:10.
There is predicted to be some cloud cover around, which could contribute to a degree of humidity, while there could be quite a blustery wind that has to be taken into account as well.
Besides that, it should be dry and warm, and it will be interesting to see if this is kept in mind when it comes to the Springboks selection (which will take place at 15:00 on Tuesday).
Manie Libbok or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu may well get a start at 10 as the Springboks look to once again ‘fire shots’ on attack in this all-important game against a dangerous Argentina side.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen said they certainly knew what to expect this Saturday.
“Argentina are a very good side, who like to move the ball and use their opportunities, so the big challenge for us will be to try to counter their loose play, and we also need to deliver a quality performance until the final whistle.
“As Tony said, they beat all three opposition teams in the competition last year, and they defeated New Zealand and Australia again this year, so they are a dangerous side to face.
“It’s always hard playing against them because they are a tough and passionate nation, but they’ve also come a long way in the last few seasons. So, I think it will be a tight game with a big forward battle as well. The team that looks after the ball the best, uses their chances, and does well in the aerial battle will probably come out on top.”
Esterhuizen added that there was still a lot of room for improvement in the Boks’ game.
“It was special to be part of that game (the team’s record 43-10 victory against the All Blacks), but we still feel there is a lot to work on, especially in terms of executing our chances better,” he said.
“The one thing we took from that match was that it showed us what we can do when we execute our game plan well, so consistency will be the key in that area going forward.”
