Rugby-Springboks recall experienced World Cup winners for Argentina test


FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa Captain's Run - Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa - August 30, 2024 South Africa's Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth during training REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

Aug 4 (Reuters) - South Africa ⁠have recalled several World Cup winners for the ⁠one-off test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, ‌including captain Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth who will play for the first time in 2026.

• Kolisi and Etzebeth return from injury, as ​does mercurial flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who will ⁠also make his first ⁠Springboks appearance of the year.

• Wing Ethan Hooker and centre Andre ⁠Esterhuizen ‌are also back in the mix, with scrumhalf Cobus Reinach capping off a backline packed with ⁠power and pace.

• Number eight Cameron Hanekom and ​flanker Elrigh Louw ‌round off the back row with Kolisi, while Etzebeth ⁠will be ​partnered by another returning veteran in Lood de Jager, who will hope to put persistent shoulder injuries behind him.

• Johan Grobbelaar is ⁠at hooker with props Boan Venter ​and Thomas du Toit either side of him.

• Coach Rassie Erasmus has chosen a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on ⁠the bench, with flyhalf Handre Pollard included along with scrumhalf Morne van den Berg. Team: 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, 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

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read