Rassie drops some serious selection hints
SPRINGBOK SPOTLIGHT: Rassie Erasmus will name a 26-man squad on Saturday to travel to Argentina for the Springboks’ one-off Test against Los Pumas.
However, the Bok coach dropped some serious selection hints this week.
Long-term injuries have already ruled out Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman for the remainder of 2026.
Erasmus added that star prop Ox Nche and utility forward Franco Mostert are also not fit to undertake the trip to Argentina.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, who captained the Boks in the Nations Championship, headlines the group who will remain in the Republic to prepare for the All Black series.
“The guys we felt played enough in the URC and the first three games [Tests against England, Scotland and Wales], and have had enough game time, will stay behind,” Erasmus told Jan de Koning.
“We are taking 26 guys to Argentina.”
If Handre Pollard is fully recovered from his hamstring strain, he will go to Argentina.
However, if there is any doubt, Vusi Moyo will be on the flight to South America.
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“Most of the guys who played a lot will remain at home,” Erasmus added.
“The guys who need game time will go to Argentina,” he said, adding: “You do the math.”
Cobus Reinach (starting) and Morné van den Berg (playing off the bench) will get game time in Buenos Aires, with Herschel Jantjies the back-up.
Other seasoned Springboks like Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Siya Kolisi (loose forward and captain), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie (both utility backs) and Andre Esterhuizen (flank and centre) will also be involved against Los Pumas.
With Nche out injured, prop Ntuthuko Mchunu might also be on the flight to Buenos Aires.
On the wing, Edwill van der Merwe looks set to get a run, with Cheslin Kolbe likely to be among the ‘stay home’ crowd.
Aphelele Fassi will get another chance to regain his best form, with Quan Horn providing utility cover off the bench.
Likely SPRINGBOK matchday team to face Los Pumas: 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 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Vusi Moyo/Handre Pollard, 23 Quan Horn.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
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