Nine changes for the Springboks, including a start for Manie Libbok

Rassie Erasmus has made nine changes to his Springboks team for this Saturday’s Rugby Championship finale versus Argentina in Nelspruit. South Africa were denied clinching the title with one game to spare when defeated 28-29 by Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero after giving up an early 17-point lead.

That loss, which was confirmed by sub Manie Libbok’s late missed penalty kick, has resulted in Erasmus altering five of his starting forwards and four of his starting backs for the Mbombela Stadium rematch where lock Eben Etzebeth will become South Africa’s most capped player of all time.

A statement read: “Eben Etzebeth will set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on in Nelspruit when he runs out at lock against Argentina, while Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok are paired as starting half-backs for the first time in the title-deciding match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium.

“The three are promoted from the bench in a match-23 that shows six personnel changes from the team that went down 29-28 against the same opposition in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.

“In total, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus made nine changes and one positional switch to the staring from last week’s encounter, recalling six double Rugby World Cup winners to the starting XV in Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Frans Malherbe (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (flanker), Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Damian de Allende (centre), and Siya Kolisi (flanker) who resumes as captain after watching from the coaches’ box in Argentina.

“The changes meant that Erasmus named the same starting pack that defeated New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town and the same five forward replacements, while reverting to a five-three split in favour of the forwards on the bench.

“The most capped centre pairing in Springboks history in de Allende and Jesse Kriel are reunited, with a back three of Aphelele Fassi (full-back) and wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Kolbe. On the bench, Cobus Reinach (scrum-half), Handre Pollard (fly-half) and Lukhanyo Am (centre) make up a formidably experienced trio, who will provide the necessary impact in the back line.

“The Springboks need only a point from the match to guarantee their first Castle Lager Rugby Championship title since the abbreviated version in 2019 and their first full tournament title since 2009, while they will also clinch the title if Argentina win the match without a bonus point based on competition points.

“The only permutation that would see Argentina snatch the title from the Boks is if Los Pumas win with a bonus point and deny the hosts a point, which would see them claim the title based on the fact that they would have had two wins over South Africa.”

Springboks (vs Argentina, Saturday)

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 8 caps, 20 points (4t)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 37 caps, 96 points (15t, 3c, 5p)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 76 caps, 85 points (17t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 84 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 21 caps, 85 points (17t)

10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 94 pts (1t, 28c, 11p)

9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 17 caps, 12 pts (2t, 1c)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 30 caps, 5 points (1t)

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 83 caps, 45 points (9t)

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 88 caps, 60 points (12t)

5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 0 points

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 127 caps, 30 points (6t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 75 caps, 5 points (1t)

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 74 caps, 75 points (15t)

1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 36 caps, 0 points

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 72 caps, 100 points (20t)

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 points

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 57 caps, 0 points

19 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps, 0 points

20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 48 caps, 45 points (9t)

21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 36 caps, 70 pts (14t)

22 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 76 caps, 749 points (7t, 102c, 165p, 5dg)

23 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 35 pts (7t)