Boks gear up for Pumas

The Springboks got their preparations for their last 2023 Rugby Championship match started on Thursday in Pretoria.

Jacques Nienaber’s charges were beaten 35-20 by New Zealand at Eden Park last week and will need their foes Australia to do them a favour and beat the All Blacks if they are to have a chance of winning the championship.

Nienaber, however, says last week’s defeat does not change their plans of squad rotation and giving all of the players some game time.

“It will stay the same for the Argentina Test. Our main thing is to manage the load between the players in the games that we have available. The primary objective is to win the Rugby Championship (but) it’s not in our hands anymore, Australia must basically do us a favour,” said Nienaber.

[WATCH] 🏉🇿🇦 Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber says last week's loss to the All Blacks doesn't affect their plans or team selections for the #RugbyChampionship.

The Boks face Argentina next Saturday in their last match in SA before #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/4dzIQ63XsF

— Ntsako Mkhari (@Ntsako_Mkhari_) July 20, 2023

South Africa need Australia to beat New Zealand on Saturday morning and win their own match against Argentina if they are to win the championship.

They will be bolstered by the return of scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, who had left the camp following the death of his father. Lock Eben Etzebeth is currently not with the team as he also lost his father and will only join the squad on Sunday.

[WATCH] 🏉🇿🇦 The Boks are back in camp ahead of their #RugbyChampionship tie against Argentina 🇦🇷 next week in JHB.
Jaden Hendrikse is back following a family bereavement.
Siya Kolisi, Handre Pollard, and Ox Nche are recovering from injury and Eben Etzebeth will join on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/O4SnIuElFS

— Ntsako Mkhari (@Ntsako_Mkhari_) July 20, 2023

Captain Siyamthanda Kolisi (knee), Handre Pollard (calf), and Ox Nche are still recovering from injury and are not available for selection for the clash against the Pumas with the plan being to have them ready for the warm-up matches against Wales and New Zealand before the World Cup in France in September.

Next Saturday’s match at the Emirates Airline Park will be the Boks’ final appearance on South African soil in 2023 before they head to the World Cup.

Nienaber will announce his final squad for the global showpiece in Johannesburg on 8 August.

[WATCH] 🏉🇿🇦 Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber on how far he is to finalising his #RWC2023 squad.
SA will play their last match in the country next Saturday against Argentina in the #RugbyChampionship

🗣️"It's not settled, but we've got a clear idea" pic.twitter.com/IqtX2MFq7d

— Ntsako Mkhari (@Ntsako_Mkhari_) July 20, 2023