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Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting team for their decisive Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Sunday (AEST).
Salmaan Moerat captains the new-look team as the Boks aim to wrap up a first title since 2019, following four straight wins to start their campaign.
The five players retaining their starting places from the team that defeated New Zealand in Cape Town 18-12, ten days ago are Ox Nche (prop), Ruan Nortje (lock), Jasper Wiese (No 8), Handre Pollard (flyhalf) and Jesse Kriel (centre).
Lukhanyo Am (centre) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) are moved from the bench to a starting position from that 23, while Eben Etzebeth (lock) is on the bench.
Erasmus revealed that young flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who was left off the tour, is having an operation after suffering a knee injury against the All Blacks.
Erasmus revealed that Feinberg-Mngomezulu tried to keep the injury a secret from the team ahead of the second Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
“Sacha will only be ready for the End-of-Year tour because of a knee issue,” Erasmus said.
“He injured it during the first Test against the All Blacks and in the following week, I asked him ‘why is he limping?’ He then said he injured his knee in the previous Test.”
Erasmus says he was tempted to pull Feinberg-Mngomezulu out of the team, but the flyhalf said he was fit to play.
“I actually wanted to pull him out of the team because he was limping. One of the things that our players must understand, even the young guys, is that they need to be honest with their injuries,“ Erasmus said.
“Nobody who has an injury and is at 80 percent is better than a player who has no injuries and is at 100 percent. Sacha is lucky that we won those games because he gambled a bit.
“He’s having an operation now. We don’t know what’s exactly wrong with the knee, but it should be ready within four and a half weeks.”
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus. (Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images)
Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s Springbok record of 127 Test appearances if he takes the field against a Pumas team fresh off a record 67-27 pumping of the Wallabies.
Returning to the starting line-up after previously appearing in the competition are: Aphelele Fassi (fullback), Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi (wings), Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Ben-Jason Dixon and Marco van Staden (loose forwards) and Thomas du Toit (prop), along with Moerat.
“It would be amazing to wrap up the title this weekend, but it won’t be easy, and we have a bigger picture in mind as well, which is to build squad depth with an eye on the 2027 World Cup,” said Erasmus in a statement.
“The only way we can do that is to expose the younger players to tough opposition under difficult circumstances, and so far, all of them have risen to that challenge.
“We’re excited about this squad and to see what the younger players can do in pretty tough playing conditions with such a passionate support base in Argentina and also at a new stadium.
“The fact that Los Pumas are still in the running for the title for the first time ever will drive their team and supporters even more. We have no doubt we will be tested to the limit both as a team and the players as individuals, and we are excited to see how they deal the pressures that comes with playing here.”
Erasmus opted to rest seven players for the trip: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi.
He said it was important to continue to balance playing time and expose younger players to top-quality opposition as they build toward the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The team features a new-look front row of Nche and Du Toit (props) and Marx, while Moerat will pair up with Nortje in the engine room. Erasmus also named a physical loose trio of Van Staden, Dixon (both flankers) and Wiese, while Reinach and Pollard will dictate play at halfback.
In the backline, Kriel and Am will provide firepower in the midfield, while the back three will see Arendse, Mapimpi and Fassi (fullback) make their presence felt with their hard running and skilful play.
“This group features players who have played either against New Zealand, Australia or both, so they have come up against tough opposition in the last few weeks, and this weekend will be equally demanding both physically and mentally, and it excites us as a group,” said Erasmus.
“Many of these combinations have played together this season and they all know how tough Argentina can make things for you on the day if you do not pitch up sharp and battle ready.
“It’s also good to have this mix of youth and experience, while at the same time having a squad that boasts the physicality and X-factor that we need against the Pumas, and we are excited to see what the likes of Jan-Hendrik, Manie, Aphelele and Ben-Jason, among others will bring to this match.”
A win would be the sixth in succession in Rugby Championship, which would be the Boks’ longest winning run in the competition (or its Tri-Nations forerunner), exceeding five consecutive victories recorded in 2009.
“Argentina are a force to be reckoned with at home and they’ll be even more charged up for this match knowing that a bonus-point victory or victory could keep them in the race for their first ever title, so we know they will not give us an inch,” said Erasmus.
“They are a quality team with strong forwards and talented backs, and they like to keep the ball alive, so we need to be accurate in every aspect of our game and deny them from stamping their authority, but rather enforcing our style of play on them.
“Our players understand the importance of this match in every respect, and one could see from our training sessions in Stellenbosch last week and since yesterday that they are switched on and ready to give their all, as this match is equally important for both teams.
“We have no doubt it’s going to be epic and could come down to the wire, but we live for these moments as a team and hopefully we can deliver on what we set out to do and get the desired result.”
Springboks team (1-15): Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Jasper Wiese, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Manie Libbok.
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