Rassie Erasmus has once again dismissed suggestions that Saturday’s clash with Argentina is merely a dress rehearsal for the looming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour against the All Blacks, insisting such talk is disrespectful to the Pumas.
The Springbok coach, speaking in Buenos Aires after naming his team for the Test, showed a hint of irritation when asked whether the match was simply a “warm-up” for the four-Test series against New Zealand.
“I know I have been talking about this for the last two weeks, but I am going to talk about it once more,” Erasmus said.
“Just think if you are the coach of the Pumas, or one of their players, and they hear the Springboks talking in this press conference about the All Blacks instead of Argentina. It would be a slap in their face. We are playing the Pumas on Saturday, not the All Blacks.
“Our sole focus this week is trying to beat Argentina in Argentina, which has always been a tough task, whether people believe it or not.
“The reality is that we have been beaten here a few times. They gave us one of the biggest hidings we have had since we have been together as a coaching team (32-19 in 2018).”
Erasmus said he was not being “stubborn” by repeatedly stressing the danger posed by Argentina.
“All our guys here in Argentina will play a role against New Zealand. We have players who are trying to stake a claim in the squad for that series. They might start the first Test or play for 50 minutes, depending on factors such as whether Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth find form.
“New Zealand are on a seven-week tour. It is a four-Test series. It is as long as a World Cup pool stage. It is a massive period on the road.
“If you think about what happens over that period at a World Cup, in a month we could be asking who is still standing. We could be wondering how many locks we have left.
“So, yes, this game is critical for us.”
