The Springboks emphasised the importance of treating Argentina with the respect they deserve and sticking to their own systems as they prepare to line up against their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title contenders in Santiago del Estero on Saturday at 23:00 (SA Time).
Springbok captain Salmaan who will face Argentina for the first time in his 10th Test for South Africa, spoke equally highly of the opposition and expected a gruelling battle,
“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 Castle Lager 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.”
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.”