Elrigh Louw and Andre Esterhuizen have been recalled to the Springboks’ match-day squad, with Duane Vermeulen dropped, for the Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on Saturday.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named an unchanged starting team for their must-win match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with the coach making only three changes to the replacements.
Talented young loose forward Elrigh Louw takes over from Duane Vermeulen on the bench, Faf de Klerk returns as scrumhalf cover in place of Cobus Reinach, and Andre Esterhuizen gets a run in place of Warrick Gelant in the match, which has been moved to Estadio Libertadores De América.
With New Zealand on 10 log points, and the Springboks, Australia and Argentina trailing by only one point each on nine – although Nienaber’s men are currently in second place in the standings due to a favourable points difference – all four teams are under pressure to win their remaining matches and preferably with bonus points to give themselves the best possible chance of winning the title.
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With the Boks coming off a strong performance against Australia in Sydney in their last match two weeks ago, where they registered a convincing 24-8 bonus-point victory, Nienaber opted to retain the starting team that laid a strong foundation for the win.
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.
