Marathon Boks to improve

After a marathon trip of 22 hours the Springboks arrived in Buenos Aires, determined to produce an improved performance in their second Test in the Rugby Championship.

South Africa face Argentina in Salta on Saturday in Round Two of the Southern Hemisphere championship, after the Boks kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought 13-6 win over Los Pumas in Monsoon-like conditions at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said his team would have to make a huge step up if it was going to remain unbeaten in 2014.

"It was a tough start in difficult conditions for both teams, but we simply have to execute better this weekend in Salta," Meyer said upon the team's arrival in the Argentinean capital, Buenos Aires.

"We have first-hand experience on how tough it is over here from our last two visits to Argentina," he said.

"They are a very proud nation and have improved immensely over the last number of years."

Meyer said his team would have to be 100 percent sharp, even in training ahead of the match.

The players will have their first training session of the week on Tuesday, while the medical team will treat the bumps and bruises sustained at Loftus Versfeld.

Golden Lions captain Warren Whiteley, who was called into the squad following a hamstring strain sustained by Willem Alberts late last week, joined the squad in Johannesburg on Sunday, before the team's departure.

The Springboks left Pretoria at about 19.30 on Sunday and arrived at their hotel in Buenos Aires at 17.30 (South African time – 12.30 Argentina time) on Monday, travelling via Sao Paulo in Brazil.

The players will have light flush-out sessions before the first training session of the week, on Tuesday.