Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed his 33-man squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Durban. The Boks stick with much of the group that delivered a dominant win over New Zealand, but injuries to key players have forced some adjustments.
Starting XV vs Argentina (Durban)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| 15 | Damian Willemse |
| 14 | Cheslin Kolbe |
| 13 | Canan Moodie |
| 12 | Damian de Allende |
| 11 | Ethan Hooker |
| 10 | Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu |
| 9 | Cobus Reinach |
| 8 | Jasper Wiese |
| 7 | Pieter-Steph du Toit |
| 6 | Siya Kolisi (captain) |
| 5 | Ruan Nortje |
| 4 | Eben Etzebeth |
| 3 | Thomas du Toit |
| 2 | Malcolm Marx |
| 1 | Ox Nche |
Replacements / Bench
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen
Key Changes & Highlights
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Injuries rule out lock Lood de Jager, loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez, and fullback Aphelele Fassi, creating opportunities for others to step up.
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Bongi Mbonambi and Faf de Klerk return to the squad after missing the New Zealand tour, adding experience in the spine positions.
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The front row depth is reinforced with Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, and Wilco Louw all available.
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In the backline, exciting options such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, and Manie Libbok add attacking variety alongside proven stars Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, and Makazole Mapimpi.
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Erasmus has emphasised continuity in preparation, keeping the core squad together for over three months to build cohesion.
Full Squad List
Forwards
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Loosehead Prop | Ox Nche |
| Loosehead Prop | Boan Venter |
| Hooker | Malcolm Marx |
| Hooker | Bongi Mbonambi |
| Hooker | Marnus van der Merwe |
| Tighthead Prop | Thomas du Toit |
| Tighthead Prop | Vincent Koch |
| Tighthead Prop | Wilco Louw |
| Tighthead Prop | Jan-Hendrik Wessels |
| Lock | Eben Etzebeth |
| Lock | Franco Mostert |
| Lock | RG Snyman |
| Lock | Ruan Nortje |
| Flank | Siya Kolisi |
| Flank | Pieter-Steph du Toit |
| Flank | Marco van Staden |
| Flank | Kwagga Smith |
| No. 8 | Jasper Wiese |
Backs
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Scrum-half | Faf de Klerk |
| Scrum-half | Cobus Reinach |
| Scrum-half | Grant Williams |
| Scrum-half | Morne van den Berg |
| Fly-half | Handré Pollard |
| Fly-half | Manie Libbok |
| Fly-half | Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu |
| Centre | Damian de Allende |
| Centre | Jesse Kriel |
| Centre | Andre Esterhuizen |
| Centre/Utility Back | Damian Willemse |
| Wing | Cheslin Kolbe |
| Wing | Makazole Mapimpi |
| Wing | Canan Moodie |
| Wing | Ethan Hooker |
Match Preview
Saturday’s clash in Durban is set to be a key test of the Springboks’ depth and resilience.
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Set piece strength: With experienced front-row options and world-class locks, South Africa will look to dominate scrums and lineouts.
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Backline balance: The mix of seasoned campaigners like Kolbe, Kriel, and De Allende with emerging stars such as Hooker and Feinberg-Mngomezulu provides a blend of power and flair.
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Leadership: Siya Kolisi continues to anchor the loose trio, while Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and other senior players ensure stability across the park.
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Bench impact: As always, the “bomb squad” will be crucial in the final quarter, where Argentina are expected to bring intensity at the breakdown and in open play.
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