Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting lineup for the crucial Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero on Saturday. 

With the title on the line, a win - or even avoiding defeat - would secure South Africa’s first Championship crown since 2019.

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Salmaan Moerat will captain the restructured team and step into the lock position. 

Only five players from the side that recently triumphed over New Zealand in Cape Town will retain their places: Ox Nche (prop), Ruan Nortje (lock), Jasper Wiese (No 8), Handre Pollard (fly-half) and Jesse Kriel (center).

Erasmus also has shifted Malcolm Marx (hooker) and Lukhanyo Am (center) from the bench to starting roles, while Eben Etzebeth, now part of the reserves, is poised to tie Victor Matfield’s Springbok record with his 127th test appearance.

Key changes see players such as Aphelele Fassi (fullback), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Makazole Mapimpi (wings) and Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) returning to the starting 15, alongside other notable inclusions, such as Ben-Jason Dixon and Marco van Staden (loose forwards) and Thomas du Toit (prop).

With Argentina still is vying for its first Rugby Championship title, Erasmus anticipates a fiercely competitive match. He acknowledged the challenges of playing in Argentina, highlighting the passionate home support and tough conditions. 

“We’ll be tested to the limit,” said Erasmus, expressing his excitement to see how the younger players rise to the occasion.

Erasmus has rested key players, including Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe and Damian de Allende, aiming to balance squad depth and experience. 

This match forms part of a broader strategy to prepare the team for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, giving younger players valuable exposure to high-pressure situations.

The Springboks will be aiming for their sixth consecutive Championship win, which would set a new record for the team. However, Erasmus is aware of the threat posed by a fired-up Argentina and emphasized the importance of precision, discipline and playing at a high intensity for the full 80 minutes.

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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