Springboks looking to keep up momentum
The Springboks will be fully aware that their tour of Australia and New Zealand will be the true test of how far they have come as a team in 2017.
It will also be critical in determining the outcome of this year's Rugby Championship.
The Springboks have made the perfect start to the competition with two wins against Argentina, including their maiden away win under coach Allister Coetzee. They have also won all five of their tests this season. Their progress will seem less impressive if they can't at least win one test on this tour before returning home to face the Wallabies and All Blacks.
“I can’t refer to the last one unless we have completed this one successfully," Coetzee told IOL.
"You won’t be in with a shout if there’s no progress in the second phase. So they all fit into the whole puzzle. We’ve got to go there and be successful. If we want to stay in the competition and win it, in the end, this is massively important."
The Wallabies are an improving side and Coetzee respects this.
“We have a lot of respect for the Australians and they ask different questions to most of the other sides. They are a clever side and they really do things intelligently.
"We are facing defensively something different but we know what to expect and have a good understanding and we will continue with what we believe in and our processes.
"Don’t look at Super Rugby, don’t look at that first game and don’t look at what has happened to Australia now. They’ve got 33 fantastic international players, a pack that can compete and could be a force so we’ve got our work cut out there.”
Coetzee is also confident that once the entire squad is in Perth, they will have enough time to prepare fully.
“But as I say and even though it is a cliché, every Test is very important because it breeds belief in what we do and keeps the momentum going. The momentum is something much needed in every team especially in international rugby; it helps with continuity and a lot of things," said Coetzee.
"We are really looking forward to the Test and to improve the Salta performance and the players understand the job. I’m happy with the planning and preparation and the players must just go out there and do the job.
“What we do need is all the confidence that we can have to go on an Australasia leg.
"As a team, we are in a good place. I think the big thing for this team is that they have grown a lot in the past five Test matches but it is a big challenge for us over there. We have to stay humble and grounded and just continue to do the hard work. Humility is a key ingredient and we have no option but to work hard.”