Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus is facing a tactical balancing act as key stars prepare to make their long-awaited injury returns against Argentina in Buenos Aires this Saturday.
Captained by Siya Kolisi, the match-day 23 welcomes back high-profile figures including Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Morné van den Berg.
With Etzebeth returning from a concussion layoff and De Jager recovering from a lengthy absence, Erasmus confirmed that minute management and strategic rotations will take priority during the match.
Team Selection & Strategy
- Match Time: Saturday at 21:00 SAST (Buenos Aires)
- Rotation Plan: Ben-Jason Dixon and Cobus Wiese are set for straight-swap substitutions to cover locks Etzebeth and De Jager.
- Injury Management: Erasmus highlighted Siya Kolisi’s experience with rehab, while backing Marco van Staden to provide fresh energy off the bench.
“Eben is coming back from a concussion and a long time that he hasn’t played and he won’t last 80 minutes… Lood hasn’t played for a long time and we’ll see how long they last in the game and then Cobus will come on and call the lineout.”
— Rassie Erasmus
Springbok Match-Day 23
- Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter.
- Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Handré Pollard.
