Boks welcome back stalwarts for Pumas clash

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has included a host of stalwarts, who will all make a timely return from injury, including captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Morne van den Berg, for Saturday’s Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker, who picked up niggles during last month’s Nations Championship, also return in a starting team featuring 13 changes from the side that ran out against Wales in the Boks’ last Test.

Seven players who featured in the 43-0 victory over Wales in Durban, retain their places in the match-23, with only Aphelele Fassi and Cobus Reinach starting.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, and Gerhard Steenekamp have been named on the bench.

The Boks will field an entirely new pack, with Boan Venter and Thomas du Toit in the front row alongside Johan Grobbelaar. Etzebeth will join forces with De Jager at lock, while Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, and Cameron Hanekom make up the loose trio.

In the backline, Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu form the halfback pairing, while Esterhuizen will partner Canan Moodie in midfield. Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe and Fassi form an exciting back three.

“This match is the perfect occasion for players like Siya, Eben, Lood, Sacha, Morne and the other players returning from injury to get a tough Test under the belt and get back into full swing at international level, as Argentina are a formidable team, who will push us to the limit,” said Erasmus.

“The Argentineans are very similar to South Africans in many ways. Their passion and patriotism for their country and people, and the way they give everything on the field and keep fighting is a testament to the type of Test match we are expecting this weekend,” he added.

The #Springboks team to face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday has a solid look to it – more here: https://t.co/kPbxl7Gi4W 👊#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/oa6A3jlixb

— Springboks (@Springboks) August 4, 2026

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari