Springboks make 10 changes for Los Pumas showdown
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting team for their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
Salmaan Moerat (lock) leads a new-look team in a match which would see the Boks claim the Championship title for the first time since 2019, should they avoid defeat by the in-form Pumas.
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 match-23, while Eben Etzebeth (lock) goes the other way to join the retained Bomb Squad of Vincent Koch, Gerhard Steenekamp (both props), Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith (both loose forwards) and Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf).
Jan-Hendrik Wessels (hooker) and Manie Libbok (utility back) come in to complete a bench once again consisting of six forwards and two backs.
Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s Springbok record of 127 Test appearances if he takes the field.
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 Castle Lager 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.”
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.
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.
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.”
Erasmus expected an epic battle against Argentina and emphasised the importance of effective execution, keeping calm under pressure and playing for the full 80 minutes to keep alive their hopes of a victory, which would see them go into the final match of the tournament against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit next week unbeaten and with the title already wrapped up.
A win would be the sixth in succession in the Castle Lager 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.”
Springbok team to face Argentina in Santiago del Estero:
15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 7 caps, 15 points (3t)
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps, 85 points (17t)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 75 caps, 80 points (16t)
12 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 38 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 44 caps, 150 points (30t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 75 caps, 739 points (7t, 100c, 163p, 5dg)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 35 caps, 65 pts (13t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 29 caps, 5 points (1t)
7 – Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 5 points (1t)
6 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps, 10 pts (2t)
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 0 points
4 – Salmaan Moerat (captain, DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 0 points
3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 20 caps, 0 pts
2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 71 caps, 100 points (20t)
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 35 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 – Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 5 points (1t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 56 caps, 0 points
19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 126 caps, 30 points (6t)
20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 8 caps, 0 points
21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 47 caps, 45 points (9t)
22 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 16 caps, 12 pts (2t, 1c)
23 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 16 caps, 91 pts (1t, 28c, 10p)
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