THE VISITING Pumas are in for a hiding as they face the stunned Boks.
RWC defenders Springboks were defeated by the New Zealanders 35- 20, in Auckland, two weeks ago.
The game was full of errors from the ‘man in the middle’ or a referee who made misguided calls against Boks, much to the chagrin from the green and yellow bench.
But that will all be packed in the burner as Argentina will face the wounded Boks, this Saturday at Emirates Ellis Park Stadium, expected to be packed to raptures.
Smelling complacency Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, has made several changes to his team in their final Rugby Championship Test of the season.
No 8 Duane Vermeulen is back and flankers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden, who started the opening match of the competition against the Wallabies, returning to the starting XV.
The other changes up front are at hooker, where Malcolm Marx takes over from Bongi Mbonambi, and lock, where Marvin Orie comes in for Lood de Jager.
In the backline, try-scoring ace Kurt-Lee Arendse – who bagged a hat-trick against Australia – will start in place of Makazole Mapimpi, while experienced centre Jesse Kriel will make his first appearance of the season in the midfield alongside vice-captain Damian de Allende.
Nienaber opted for a five-three split on the bench in favour of the forwards, which includes prop Trevor Nyakane, who will provide an impact with Mbonambi, Vincent Koch (prop), RG Snyman (lock) and Kwagga Smith (loose forward).
“This is a quality team that will offer us the skills we need against Argentina,” said Nienaber. “It also contains a good balance of experience and youth, which is vital as we build toward the Rugby World Cup.
“There are only four more matches before we kick off our Rugby World Cup campaign so it’s a fine balancing act to give all the players a chance to stake a claim for places while selecting teams that we believe are best equipped for the opposition we’ll face, and we’re pleased with the way we’ve managed that process up to now.
“Obviously the result in New Zealand was bitterly disappointing, but we came into the season with a plan that will hopefully allow us to select the best possible squad for the World Cup and peak at the right time.”
Full squad:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 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.
Substitutes: 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.
With tickets already sold out- fans are encouraged not to buy fake tickets.
The game kicks-off from 17: 05, on Saturday 29.
Image (SA coach Jacques Nienaber forced to effect changes to squad facing Puma’s on Saturday).
