The Springboks will return to action against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday with captain Siya Kolisi leading a powerful line-up at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The match, which kicks off at 21:00 South African time, gives several returning players the chance to build much-needed match fitness before South Africa begin their four-Test series against the All Blacks. The Springboks are also aiming to maintain the momentum created by three successive victories at the start of July.
Kolisi is joined in the starting XV by experienced forwards Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu features at fly-half. Some of South Africa’s more established players could be short of sharpness after their break from competitive action, but the visitors have selected a strong team for the one-off encounter.
Argentina will field a new-look side captained by veteran flanker Pablo Matera. Their match-day 23 includes four uncapped players, while a number of more familiar names are unavailable because of commitments with European clubs.
The Springboks’ record against Argentina is dominant. In 40 meetings, South Africa have won 35, lost four and drawn one. They have scored 1,411 points and conceded 784, while their try count stands at 167 scored and 76 conceded.
South Africa’s highest score against Argentina is 73-13, while their biggest winning margin is 60 points. Their overall win percentage in the fixture is 87.5%.
The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springboks starting XV
15 Aphelele Fassi; 14 Edwill van der Merwe; 13 Canan Moodie; 12 Andre Esterhuizen; 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Cameron Hanekom; 7 Elrigh Louw; 6 Siya Kolisi (captain); 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 Morne van den Berg, 23 Handre Pollard.
Argentina starting XV
15 Geronimo Prisciantelli; 14 Rodrigo Isgro; 13 Lucio Cinti; 12 Faustino Sanchez Valarolo; 11 Ignacio Mendy; 10 Santiago Carreras; 9 Simon Benitez Cruz; 8 Joaquin Moro; 7 Benjamin Grondona; 6 Pablo Matera (captain); 5 Tomas Lavanini; 4 Guido Petti; 3 Francisco Moreno; 2 Ignacio Ruiz; 1 Boris Wenger.
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Tomas Rapetti, 19 Ephraim Elijah, 20 Juan Penoucos, 21 Juan Martin Scelzo, 22 Agustin Moyano, 23 Matias Moroni.
South Africa will be looking to use the fixture to sharpen their combinations before the demanding series against New Zealand, while Argentina will attempt to make the most of home advantage with an inexperienced team that includes four players yet to win an international cap.
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