Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has reshuffled his lineup for Saturday’s penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Argentina, making 10 changes to the team that defeated New Zealand in Cape Town just 10 days ago.
The clash, set to take place in Santiago del Estero, holds significant weight, as the Springboks stand on the brink of clinching the Championship title for the first time since 2019.
With a mere draw or victory needed to secure the title, Erasmus has opted to rotate his squad, handing opportunities to a mix of seasoned campaigners and up-and-coming talents. Leading the revamped side will be lock Salmaan Moerat, who steps into the captaincy role for this match.
Five players have retained their starting positions from the narrow 18-12 win over the All Blacks, including prop Ox Nche, lock Ruan Nortje, No. 8 Jasper Wiese, fly-half Handre Pollard, and centre Jesse Kriel. However, the rest of the lineup has been shuffled, with several players making their return to the starting team and others dropped to the bench or rested entirely.
Among the notable adjustments, lock Eben Etzebeth will drop to the bench. If he takes the field, Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s Springbok record of 127 Test caps, a remarkable milestone in his storied career. Lukhanyo Am (centre) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) have been promoted to the starting lineup from the bench, adding further firepower to the squad.
Erasmus explained the rationale behind the changes, noting the importance of building squad depth with a long-term view toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup. “It would be amazing to wrap up the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title this weekend, but it won’t be easy. We have a bigger picture in mind, which is to build squad depth for the future,” 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.”
The coach’s words speak to the balancing act of maintaining a competitive edge while giving valuable experience to emerging players. This approach has resulted in a squad with several new combinations. Aphelele Fassi returns at fullback, while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi take their places on the wings. Cobus Reinach, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, and Thomas du Toit are also recalled to the starting lineup, adding both skill and physicality to the forward and back divisions.
Etzebeth, one of the senior figures in the squad, moves to the bench alongside fellow members of the “Bomb Squad,” including Vincent Koch, Gerhard Steenekamp, Kwagga Smith, and Jaden Hendrikse. Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Manie Libbok complete the forward-heavy bench, providing versatility and fresh legs in the second half.
Erasmus also opted to rest key players, including stalwarts Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, and Pieter-Steph du Toit, with an eye on managing workloads and preserving player fitness. These decisions highlight the coach’s long-term strategy, balancing immediate success with the need to keep the squad sharp and rested for future challenges.
The Boks are aware that Argentina will pose a significant threat. The Pumas are fresh off a commanding 67-27 victory over Australia and remain in the running for their first-ever Rugby Championship title. “The fact that Los Pumas are still in the race for the title will drive their team and supporters even more,” Erasmus noted. “We have no doubt we will be tested to the limit.”
The Springboks are targeting their sixth consecutive win in the Championship, which would mark their longest winning streak in the competition’s history, surpassing the five-game run in 2009. However, Erasmus is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. “Argentina are a force to be reckoned with at home, and they’ll be even more charged up for this match knowing a victory could keep them in the race.”
For the Boks, execution, composure, and intensity will be critical to overcoming the passionate Pumas. With physicality expected to be a key component of the match, Erasmus expressed confidence in the depth and balance of his squad. “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.”
As the Springboks prepare for what could be an epic encounter, the stakes are high. A win would not only secure the title but also set the tone for the final match of the tournament in South Africa next week.
In a fixture that promises to test both mental and physical endurance, the Springboks are ready to rise to the occasion and deliver a performance that could see them crowned champions once again.
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)
Source: SA Rugby
