The Springboks are on a good winning streak against Argentina. Photo: SA rugby website
REMINDER: Springboks-Pumas kick-off time, team lineups
The Springboks and Argentina will clash in a crucial Rugby Championship on Saturday that could make or break their title prospects.
The Springboks are on a good winning streak against Argentina. Photo: SA rugby website
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has retained the same starting lineup from the last outing against Australia, while Argentina coach Michael Cheika has made seven changes to his team after a heavy defeat last time out against New Zealand.
In South Africa, the match will kick off at 21:10.
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For the Springboks, there are so changes on the bench where talented young loose forward Elrigh Louw takes over from Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk returns as scrumhalf cover in place of Cobus Reinach, while Andre Esterhuizen has returned from injury and will replace Warrick Gelant in a match that has been moved to Estadio Libertadores De América.
“We have fantastic depth within our squad with younger and more experienced players, and it requires a fine balancing act to select a squad that we think will be the best team for each match, while at the same time giving most of the players an opportunity to play,” Nienaber commented.
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Commenting specifically on the changes among the replacements, Nienaber said the “plan from the outset was to give a few players a chance to prove what they can do and to build their Test experience”.
“Especially with the Rugby World Cup a year away, and there is no better opportunity to do so than in a match which essentially amounts to a semi-final for us if we want to win the tournament.”
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For Argentina, Cheika has changed both props, with Eduardo Bello introduced at loosehead and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro at tighthead. There are two more changes in the pack with Matias Alemanno recalled at lock and Juan Martin Gonzalez picked at blindside.
Gonzalo Bertranou gets the nod ahead of Tomas Cubelli at scrumhalf, while Jeronimo De La Fuente returns from injury at outside centre and Lucio Cinti is picked on the left wing.
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Springboks team to face Argentina in Buenos Aires:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 77 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 5 pts (1t)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 54 caps, 60 pts (12t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 64 caps, 40 pts (8t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 31 caps, 110 pts (22t)
10 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 22 caps, 14 pts (1t, 3c, 1p)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 8 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 16 caps, 0 pts
7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 57 caps, 10 pts (2t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 69 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 62 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 104 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 52 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 53 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 65 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 2 caps, 0pts
17 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 13 caps, 0pts
18 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 58 caps, 5pts (1t)
19 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 pts
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 25 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 – Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 40 caps, 25 pts (5t)
22 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) – 9 caps, 0pts
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 76 caps, 150 pts (11t, 7c, 24p, 3d)
Argentina – 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Lucio Cinti, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Subs: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Matias Moroni.
Springbok record against Los Pumas in Argentina:
Played 15; Won 12; Lost 2; Drawn 1; Points for: 508, Points against: 318; Tries scored 59, Tries conceded 30; Highest score 52-23 Buenos Aires (1993); Biggest win 33 points Salta (2019). Win % 80%.
Milestones:
- Eben Etzebeth will become the most capped Springbok against Argentina with 18 appearances when he takes the field.
- Siya Kolisi will play in his 40th Test as captain.
Miscellaneous:
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 741.
- There are 263 caps in the backline with 478 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 225 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline are 37, the forwards 59, while the players on the bench average 28.
