Salmaan Moerat will lead a Springboks matchday squad for the Rugby Championship match against Argentina featuring 10 changes, including a possible first run-out at hooker off the bench for the versatile Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Only five players retain their starting places from the team that defeated the All Blacks in Cape Town,with Ox Nche (prop), Ruan Nortje (lock), Jasper Wiese (No 8), Handre Pollard (flyhalf) and Jesse Kriel (centre) all selected for the clash in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
Lukhanyo Am will start the match at inside centre next to Jesse Kriel, while hooker Malcolm Marx has also been moved from the bench into the starting line-up.
Lock Eben Etzebeth, who will equal Victor Matfield’s record as the most capped Springbok (127), moved to the bench.
Wessels, who has featured at loosehead prop for the Boks so far this season, comes onto the bench as a replacement hooker. This is definitely a selection for the future, as Bok stalwarts Marx and Bongi Mbonambi are both in their 30s.
Flyhalf Manie Libbok will feature for the first time this season in the Rugby Championship as part of the “Bomb Squad”.
The #Springboks have named their team for Saturday's big clash with @lospumas in Argentina - more here: https://t.co/It2NaNZY3A 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/01vrBskxEi
Aphelele Fassi is back in the starting line-up at fullback, while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi has been picked on the wing.
Coach Rassie Erasmus, as usual, has stuck to his guns with the wholesale changes even though the Springboks can win the Rugby Championship with a win against Argentina’s Los Pumas.
The Bok coach said it was important to not deviate from his policy of giving his wider squad game time as they continue to balance playing time and expose the younger players to top quality opposition as they build toward the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“It would be amazing to wrap up the Rugby Championship 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.
“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.”
Springboks to face Argentina in Santiago del Estero:
15 – Aphelele Fassi – 7 caps
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse – 20 caps
13 – Jesse Kriel – 75 caps
12 – Lukhanyo Am – 38 caps
11 – Makazole Mapimpi – 44 caps
10 – Handre Pollard – 75 caps
9 – Cobus Reinach – 35 caps
8 – Jasper Wiese – 29 caps
7 – Ben-Jason Dixon – 4 caps
6 – Marco van Staden – 22 caps
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps
4 – Salmaan Moerat (captain)– 9 caps
3 – Thomas du Toit – 20 caps
2 – Malcolm Marx – 71 caps
1 – Ox Nche – 35 caps
Replacements:
16 – Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 2 caps
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp – 6 caps
18 – Vincent Koch – 56 caps
19 – Eben Etzebeth – 126 caps
20 – Elrigh Louw – 8 caps
21 – Kwagga Smith – 47 caps
22 – Jaden Hendrikse – 16 caps
23 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 16 caps
@JohnGoliath82