Rugby Union - South Africa Press Conference - Pretoria, South Africa - July 25, 2023 South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber during the press conference REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa have made nine changes to their side for their final Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina at Ellis Park on Saturday, including a first start of the season for hooker Malcolm Marx and the return of Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wing.
The Springboks thumped Australia 43-12 in their tournament opener in Pretoria but were brought back down to earth with a 35-20 loss to New Zealand in Auckland last time out.
Coach Jacques Nienaber made 10 changes for the All Blacks and has shuffled his pack again for the different challenge now offered by Argentina.
Willie Le Roux starts at fullback with Cheslin Kolbe and Arendse on the wings. The latter scored a hattrick of tries in the win over the Wallabies.
Jesse Kriel takes over at outside centre alongside Damian de Allende, with Lukhanyo Am slipping to the bench as part of a 5-3 split between forwards and backs that is a move away from The Boks’ usual 6-2.
Manie Libbok is restored at flyhalf alongside number nine Grant Williams, who makes his first international start.
Duane Vermeulen returns at number eight and will captain the side. He makes up the back row alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden.
The lock pairing will be old school friends Marvin Orie and Eben Etzebeth, with Marx to start at hooker and props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff either side of him.
"This is a quality team that will offer us the skills we need against Argentina," Nienaber said in a media release from South African Rugby.
"It also contains a good balance of experience and youth, which is vital as we build toward the Rugby World Cup," he added. "We're pleased with the way we've managed that process up to now."
South Africa still can win the Rugby Championship but will likely need a bonus-point win over Argentina and hope New Zealand get nothing from their fixture against Australia in Melbourne.
Springbok team:
15 – Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, 13 – Jesse Kriel, 12 – Damian de Allende, 11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 – Manie Libbok, 9 – Grant Williams, 8 – Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 – Marco van Staden, 5 – Marvin Orie, 4 – Eben Etzebeth, 3 – Frans Malherbe, 2 – Malcolm Marx, 1 – Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:
16 – Bongi Mbonambi, 17 – Trevor Nyakane, 18 – Vincent Koch, 19 – Kwagga Smith, 20 – RG Snyman, 21 – Faf de Klerk, 22 – Lukhanyo Am, 23 – Damian Willemse.
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Miral Fahmy)
