Moerat to lead Boks against Los Pumas

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has made 10 changes to his starting team for their penultimate Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.

Salmaan Moerat will captain the new-look team in a match, which will see the Boks claim the championship title for the first time since 2019, should they avoid defeat by the in-form Los Pumas.

The five players who retain their starting places from the team that defeated New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town 10 days ago are Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Jasper Wiese, Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel.

Lukhanyo Am and Malcolm Marx are moved from the bench to starting positions outside centre and hooker respectively, while Eben Etzebeth goes the other way to join the retained Bomb Squad of Vincent Koch, Gerhard Steenekamp, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith and Jaden Hendrikse.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Manie Libbok come in to complete a bench once again consisting of six forwards and two backs.

Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s Springbok record of 127 Test appearances if he takes the field.

“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.

“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. We’re excited about this squad and to see what the younger players can do in pretty tough playing conditions with such a passionate support base in Argentina and also at a new stadium.” he added.