Stalwart Schalk Burger says the Stormers need to embrace the occasion when they take on the Jaguares in Buenos Aires this Saturday.

The Stormers enjoy a healthy lead at the top of the Africa 1 conference after securing an impressive win over the Brumbies last Saturday, but they are now set to leave the comfort of home.

Burger has twice faced Argentina in Buenos Aires while playing for the Boks, and reminded his teammates about what to expect.

‘Obviously there is a lot of passion out there, and it is a hostile environment to go over and play in,’ he told the Stormers website. ‘But we must embrace it, it is not one of those countries that we travel to very often and not a lot of the players in this group have been there, so it is exciting to go to a new venue.'

The Jaguares have only managed one win this season, but suffered narrow defeats to the Sharks and Chiefs. As a team packed with Argentinian internationals, Burger said there were very clear threats that the Stormers would need to be prepared for.

‘From a Jaguares point of view, they do play a lot with the ball, traditionally they get a lot of energy from their forwards and they still do through their scrum and their driving maul.

‘This team likes to have ball in hand and take chances, and they play with immense energy … The trick for us will be to perform at a high level, but also stay composed within our structures.’

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images