‘Dulce de leche will get you, boys’ – Ex-Springboks issue clear warning to young stars ahead of ‘hostile’ Pumas clash
'Dulce de leche will get you, boys' - Ex-Springboks issue clear warning to young stars ahead of 'hostile' Pumas clash
Steven Kitshoff and Trevor Nyakane have issued a clear warning to the younger players in the Springbok camp ahead of their match with Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Appearing on the For The Love Of Rugby South Africa podcast, the duo warned against the dangers of overindulging on Dulce de leche ahead of the Test match at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The Springboks will face an Argentine side, seething off the back of July’s loss to England, which saw two of their biggest stars cited for on-field incidents. The world saw the challenges that Argentina pose, and South Africa need to be prepared for a battle.
“You’re gonna need a couple of soldiers, you’re gonna need boys to become men when you go there,” Nyakane claimed.
“The first 20 minutes, there’s so much passion. The boys are crying when they sing their national anthem. There might be a little bit of disruption here and there.
“You don’t know which it is going to be: the long national anthem or the shorter one. You get kept waiting on the field. The crowd is hostile. The players are ready to rip you apart.”
Passion will not be in short supply when the two sides take to the field, but the intensity of the occasion can only benefit the home side. So, what do the players need to do to take control of the match?
“We’re going to have to be clear about exactly what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re trying to achieve it,” continued Nyakane. “Everyone is going to need to stick to their guns and keep on doing what the coaches have required of us.
“I don’t know how the Boks are gonna do it. Whether it’s gonna be by running into space or finding that space at the back, you’re gonna have to get them to turn a little bit so that you just suck out that little bit of that emotion.
“If you don’t stamp your foot in that game, quickly it can become a very long day if you don’t shut that crowd up from the beginning.”
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Physicality times two
Argentina have always been a physical side, once renowned for arguably the most destructive scrum in the world game. While that mantle has now transferred to the Springboks, they remain an incredibly destructive force.
“Physicality is going to be very important because if you don’t bring it, I bet they will,” Nyakane claimed.
Kitshoff responded: “You need to be spot on in handling that emotion that the Argentinians bring, and I think they’re going to come with a lot, especially after the England Test match from a couple of weeks ago.
“I think they’re feeling robbed, and it’s another opportunity to get one back on one of the tier one nations. So, I think if you can handle that initial emotional onslaught, you’re gonna be able to fight.”
But the fight won’t be easy, because the Pumas never know when to back down.
“For me, when it comes to Argentina, they can somehow re-pull that emotion out somewhere else and just play with this intensity.”
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Their insistence on never giving up was on full display last time out. Despite being 3-19 down at half-time to England on home soil, they dug deep in a brutal second half that saw six yellow cards dished out between the two sides, almost drawing in the dying moments. It’s during these moments that South Africa will need to step up if they’re to walk away with victory.
Explaining how Argentina’s tenacity around the park adds to their game, Kitshoff continued: “They become more confident, and they just live on this fitness and chasing things down and just being absolutely a beast when it comes to the running game and outlasting teams fitness-wise.”
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A warning to the youth
For all the unrelenting danger on the field, there remain risks off the field, and not in the manner that many would expect.
“Many teams have experienced it before,” explained Kitshoff. “You go to Argentina, not just the emotion that they play with and the fitness, but it’s also super hostile. And if you’re not used to it, it does catch you off guard a little bit.”
Having experienced playing against Argentina many times himself, Nyakane urged the younger players not to fall into the Argentinian lifestyle trap.
“The crazy part is, it’s such a lovely place when you’re just chilling. They’ve got some great steaks there, some chimichurri, some Dulce de leche. I think that also makes you come down and think, okay, I’m enjoying it, I’m having a great time, good food, some good wine.”
This all sounds relaxing, but that’s the exact trap that Nyakane warns of.
“Then you get down to the field. You’re still in that zone of I’m having a good time here. And then you get the shock of your life.
“You need to come out of that very quickly because that Dulce de leche will get you, boys.
“It’s a lovely place to go visit, but if you don’t quickly switch back into rugby when it’s time for you to switch back, you’re gonna get a beating.”
Kitshoff agreed, adding: “The senior guys might have to go chat to the youngsters and say, boys, listen, this is a real threat. This could become a real threat. Just make sure that you do not overindulge in the Dulce de leche.”