Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting team for their penultimate Rugby Championship clash against Argentina.
Salmaan Moerat leads a new-look team in a match which would see the Springboks 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 , Ruan Nortje , Jasper Wiese , Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel .
Returning to the starting line-up after previously appearing in the competition are: Aphelele Fassi , Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi , Cobus Reinach , Ben-Jason Dixon and Marco van Staden and Thomas du Toit , along with Moerat.“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.
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 Springbok 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.
“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. “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.
South Africa have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the teams and have lost only twice in 17 meetings in total in Argentina.
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