South Africa’s title-chasing Springboks welcomed back loosehead prop Ox Nche for their Rugby Championship showdown against Argentina at Twickenham this weekend.
Nche had been a late withdrawal from last weekend’s match due to a minor, unspecified niggle. Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed on Tuesday that both Nche and scrumhalf Grant Williams were available if needed.
The only change to South Africa’s starting XV from their 67-30 win over the Pumas in Durban was Nche’s return, with Boan Venter dropping out of the matchday 23. Erasmus added experience to the bench with Williams, prop Bongi Mbonambi, and center Jesse Kriel, a trio combining for 186 international caps.
South Africa goes into the clash with the chance to win back-to-back Rugby Championships for the first time. The Springboks lead New Zealand by a single point and will know exactly what is required to secure the title after the Australia-New Zealand match in Perth.
Although Argentina is out of trophy contention, Erasmus expects a tough encounter. “They may be out of the title race, but they have beaten the All Blacks, Wallabies, and British and Irish Lions this season,” he said. “Defeating us would be a big target for them, so it’s going to be another hard grind.”
Springbok team to face Argentina in London:
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 44 caps, 66 points (6t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 45 caps, 126 points (21t, 3c, 5p)
13 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 19 caps, 40 pts (8t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 92 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 4 caps, 0 points
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 95 points (3t, 25c, 10p)
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 45 caps, 75 pts (15t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 38 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 92 caps, 70 pts (14t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 97 caps, 65 points (13t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 pts
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 137 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 29 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 83 caps, 125 pts (25t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 45 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 80 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 8 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 0 pts
19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 45 caps, 15 points (3t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 58 caps, 55 points (11t)
21 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 23 caps, 25 pts (5t)
22 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 23 caps, 133 pts (2t, 42c, 13p)
23 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 83 caps, 95 points (19t
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