In his second Test for the Boks in Durban in August last year, Koch struggled in the scrums against Argentina's Marcos Ayerza. The Boks eventually lost that Test match 25-37.

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That was Koch's first start and last outing for Springboks before he was named in Allister Coetzee's matchday 23 for this weekend's Rugby Championship opener.

I put everything behind me," Koch told reporters in Nelspruit.

"It has been a year since I played for the Springboks and I learnt a lot out of that Test.

"I took it very personally as well. I think I recapped everything that I learnt in the past year. Whatever I learnt I am taking into the next game.

Koch said he is mentally stronger now than when he made his international debut.

"I think I have made a lot of mental changes," Koch added.

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"I think my mind has got a bit stronger and I learned a lot out of all the mistakes and I got a bit more experienced over the past year."

With Ramiro Herrera, Agustín Creevy and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro forming a strong Argentinian front row, Koch said he and his teammates are under no illusions about the task they face at the Mbombela Stadium.

"I think we worked hard as a pack because we know they [Argentina] want to manipulate us in the scrums.

"We worked a lot on that and we spent a lot of time on ourselves. I think we have prepared the best we can for this weekend," he said.

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By Warren Fortune, in Nelspruit

@FortuneWarren

@rugby365com

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