The Springboks head into Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Twickenham with little interest in basking in the glory of last week’s emphatic 67-30 victory in Durban, as players emphasised the need for renewed focus and discipline. Centre, Damian de Allende and prop, Thomas du Toit both spoke of the intensity expected from the Pumas, despite the neutral venue.

De Allende noted that while travelling to London is easier than travelling to Buenos Aires, the contest remains finely balanced. “I wouldn’t say playing in London is easier than playing in Argentina. It may be neutral territory, but that won’t give any team an advantage,” he said, pointing to an expected crowd of more than 60 000 to create a charged atmosphere.

For Du Toit, who plays for Bath in England, the setting carries a personal twist. “I play club rugby in the United Kingdom, and we have a great support base here, so for me it is almost in a sense like playing a home game,” he explained, while warning of strong Argentine support.

The standings leave the Springboks in control, but with little margin for error in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. South Africa lead the table with 15 points, one ahead of New Zealand. A bonus-point win in London would take them to 20 and secure the title outright. A win without a bonus point would leave them on 19, and New Zealand could only draw level by claiming five points in Perth against Australia. With the Boks holding a 61-point cushion on points difference, the All Blacks would need an extraordinary margin of victory, more than 60 points, combined with a narrow South African win to snatch the title.

That precarious balance explains the tone struck by both players, who cautioned against expectations of another rout. “Argentina will come out fighting…we need to stay focused on the task at hand,” said De Allende. Du Toit stressed that training this week was about: “going back to basics” and treating the clash as entirely separate from Durban’s result.

Argentina, already armed with wins over New Zealand, Australia, and the British & Irish Lions this year, are expected to throw everything at South Africa in pursuit of a statement finish. For the Boks, Saturday offers not only the chance to defend their crown but also to reinforce the squad depth Du Toit praised, with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’s rotation policy allowing players to: “empty your tank” knowing quality lies on the bench.

As De Allende concluded: “This week is the most important game of the year for us so far. It is essentially a Final for us.” Victory in London would underline South Africa’s grip on the southern hemisphere’s premier rugby competition and sharpen their edge for the long road toward the next Rugby World Cup in 2027.