By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
There is little time for South Africa to rest on their famous series win over the Lions as the Rugby Championship kicks off in earnest on Saturday.
The Springboks welcome Argentina to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday as they look to build on the momentum forged in those victories against the Lions.
Argentina head into the 2021 Rugby Championship in impressive form, too, however; they won a two-Test series over Wales – who were, admittedly, missing several key players at the Principality Stadium in July.
However the Springboks have rotated and rested several players for their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina,most notably, Joseph Dweba will make his Springbok debut in a new-look team named by coach Jacques Nienaber.
The inclusion of Dweba at hooker is one of 12 changes to the match-day squad which won the third and final Test in the Lions series in Cape Town this past Saturday.
Nienaber made 10 changes to the starting team, which features a fresh backline and front row, and two changes on the replacements bench. With Argentina expected to pose a serious physical challenge, the Springbok coach opted for a six-two split of forwards among the replacements.
The only players who retained their places in the starting team from the final Test against the British & Irish Lions were Springbok captain Siya Kolisi (flank), Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Jasper Wiese (No 8) and Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf).
In changes to the forwards pack, Ox Nche – who has recovered from his neck injury – and Wilco Louw (both props) join forces with Dweba in the front row, replacing Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi, respectively, while Kwagga Smith replaces Franco Mostert at blindside flank in a loose trio with Kolisi and Wiese.
Elton Jantjies starts at flyhalf in a halfback pairing with Reinach, replacing Handre Pollard, while Frans Steyn and Jesse Kriel will join forces in the midfield in place of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am.
In the other backline changes, Damian Willemse replaces Willie le Roux at fullback, while Sbu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi – who made his Springbok debut against Georgia last month – will start at wing in place of Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi, respectively.
In the replacements bench, Marvin Orie and Dan du Preez have been drafted in to provide cover at lock and loose forward respectively, while the two backline replacements are Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf) and Morné Steyn (flyhalf).
“It is a long season, so it’s important that we manage the players well and rotate our squad to ensure that everyone gets sufficient game time and rest,” Nienaber said.
“We have a talented squad, and we are excited to see some of the players get a chance to show what they can do against a tough Argentinean outfit.
“Most of the players in this matchday squad have been with us since our conditioning camp in Bloemfontein in June, and they’ve been working hard at training and deserve this opportunity to take the field.”
Springbok Team:
Damian Willemse, Sbu Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, Frans Steyn, Aphelele Fassi, Elton Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Joseph Dweba, Ox Nché.
Bench: Malcolm Marx, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Marvin Orie, Marco van Staden, Dan du Preez, Herschel Jantjies, Morné Steyn.