NAMED: Cassiem handed second Springboks start against Pumas
Versatile back-row forward Uzair Cassiem will start at number eight for South Africa when they host Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
Cassiem is handed only his second Springbok start at the expense of Jean-Luc du Preez, and will be one of five players making their competition debut in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Coach Allister Coetzee has made three changes from the side that completed a 3-0 series victory over France in June, with Ross Cronje and Coenie Oosthuizen returning alongside Cassiem.
Cronje replaces Francois Hougaard at scrum-half, while Oosthuizen comes into the front row at the expense of Ruan Dreyer.
"Uzair is a very versatile loose forward and the added advantage is that he is also an excellent option in the lineout," said Coetzee.
"Coenie has played consistently well this season for the Sharks and he performed well for us whenever he came off the bench in the French series."
The #Springboks team to play @unionargentina in opening @CastleLagerSA Rugby Championship match at @nmbstadium has been named. @MTNza @FNBSA pic.twitter.com/rFgSGugMrw
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) August 17, 2017
Hougaard and Du Preez are both named on the bench, where they are joined by Curwin Bosch - who will make his international debut if called upon.
"Curwin is a young player with huge potential and a bright future ahead of him," added the coach.
"He showed in the very tough Super Rugby competition that he is a skilful player and a prolific goal kicker and he covers both full-back and fly-half.
"He can be very proud of his inclusion in the match day squad as he matriculated from Grey Port Elizabeth just two years ago."
South Africa: Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje; Tendai Mtawarira, Malcolm Marx, Coenie Oosthuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Uzair Cassiem
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Curwin Bosch, Damian de Allende
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You forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time.
Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
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