Erusmas makes 10 changes to Springbok squad to face Argentina

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to the side that beat the All Blacks in Cape Town for their penultimate Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday. Salmaan Moerat has been trusted to lead the Boks in the absence of regular captain Siya Kolisi, who was not included in the matchday squad. Only 5 players who started in the Boks 18-12 win in Cape Town have retained their places in the starting team, namely, Ox Nche, Jasper Wiese, Ruan Nortje, Handre Pollard and Jessie Kriel. 

Hooker Malcolm Marx and midfielder Lukhanyo Am have been promoted from the bench into the starting 15. Lock Eben Etzebeth, who is in line to equal Victor Matfields record for the most  appearance in a Springbok shirt(127 caps) will form part of the bomb squad on the bench in a 6/2 split with Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok providing the backline cover. 

The Boks need to avoid defeat in Saturday’s encounter to win the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019. Argentina still have a chance of clinching the Rugby Championship if they can overcome the World Champions in the final two fixtures of the tournament. 

Full Squad:

15 – Aphelele Fassi 

14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse 

13 – Jesse Kriel 

12 – Lukhanyo Am 

11 – Makazole Mapimpi 

10 – Handre Pollard 

9 – Cobus Reinach 

8 – Jasper Wiese 

7 – Ben-Jason Dixon 

6 – Marco van Staden 

5 – Ruan Nortje 

4 – Salmaan Moerat 

3 – Thomas du Toit 

2 – Malcolm Marx

1 – Ox Nche

Replacements:

Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse,  Manie Libbok