Howdy and welcome to The Telegraph’s protection of South Africa v Argentina within the Rugby Championship.
With New Zealand already topped victors of this 12 months’s competitors following their complete victory over Australia earlier at present, either side enter at present’s conflict with one eye on the World Cup which kicks of on 8 September.
The Springboks have made 9 modifications to their beginning XV that misplaced 35-20 to New Zealand in Aukland two weeks in the past.
Scrum-half Grant Williams makes his first begin, forming a brand new half-back pairing with fly-half Manie Libbok.
With skipper Siya Kolisi nonetheless recovering from knee surgical procedure, veteran no.8 Duane Vermeulen reprises his position as captain, taking on from the captain towards New Zealand Eben Etzebeth, who’s rested.
Vermeulen joins flankers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden to recreate the Springbok back-row from the opening match of the competitors towards the Wallabies.
The opposite modifications to the pack are at hooker, the place Malcolm Marx begins for the primary time this season – taking on from Bongi Mbonambi – and lock, the place Marvin Orie is available in for Lood de Jager.
Meanhile, within the backline, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse – who scored a hat-trick towards Australia – begins rather than Makazole Mapimpi, whereas skilled centre Jesse Kriel makes his first look of the season within the midfield alongside vice-captain Damian de Allende.
Bok coach Jacques Nienaber says it’s all about managing minutes.
“Our problem is to unfold that load between the squad,” Nienaber informed reporters. “We don’t wish to go chilly into Scotland in that first sport on the World Cup with one or two guys having many of the minutes.
“If you happen to decide up an harm or two, you might be bringing in a man that’s chilly. That’s the steadiness that we wish to have.”
Argentina coach Michael Cheika has additionally shuffled his backline, making 4 modifications to the aspect who beat Australia 34-31 in Sydney, with an additional compelled change at lock resulting from an harm for Matias Alemanno.
Centre Santiago Chocobares begins his first check since 2021 and Juan Cruz Mallia will get a primary run at fullback this 12 months as Argentina search a maiden win at Ellis Park.
“Mallía, Chocobares and Juan Imhoff performed within the remaining levels of the [French] Prime 14 and that’s why they’d a break,” Cheika stated. “However it’s the proper time to provide them an opportunity, together with [prop] Joel Sclavi, who’s a alternative.”
The groups will meet once more in a World Cup warm-up sport in Buenos Aires on Aug 5.
