Springboks make nine changes for Argentina as world champs aim to 'peak at right time'

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has made nine changes to his side ahead of Sunday’s (1:05am AEST) clash against Michael Cheika’s Pumas at Ellis Park.

Nienaber’s decision to split his squad ahead of their clash against the All Blacks somewhat backfired, with his men slow out of the gates in Auckland as their Southern Hemisphere rivals blew them off the park in the opening 20 minutes.

While the Springboks made a comeback either side of half-time, the world champions couldn’t overturn their 17-nil deficit as they suffered a 35-20 defeat.

Nienaber labelled the defeat “disappointing” but said it was important to give his squad opportunities, so they peak at the World Cup.

Fullback Willie le Roux and tight-head prop Frans Malherbe are the only two players to have been named to start in all three Tests, with hooker Malcolm Marx to start in a powerful front-row combination alongside Steven Kitshoff.

Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen will start against Argentina. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

World Cup winners Duane Vermeulen, who will lead the side in the absence of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth have also been named to start in an intimidating forward back that includes Marco van Staden at openside flanker.

Manie Libbok returns at fly-half, having starred in his side’s 43-12 first-up win over the Wallabies down the road in Pretoria.

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Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel form the midfield, with Lukhanyo Am to offer plenty of experience and class from the bench.

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe represent the smallest wing combination in the world but provide plenty of speed and footwork.

Jacques Nienaber says losing to the All Blacks was disappointing, but he wants the Springboks to peak for the World Cup. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

There’s plenty of experience to bring on, with World Cup winners littered across it with Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman named on a five-forwards, three-backs bench split.

“This is a quality team that will offer us the skills we need against Argentina,” Nienaber said.

“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.

“The Pumas showed in their last two games that they can be a force to be reckoned with, so we have to be sharp from the get-go, be accurate in our execution on attack and defence, and use the opportunities we create.

“They pride themselves on their set pieces, they are very dangerous at exploiting your mistakes, and they never stop fighting which makes them a challenging opponent.

“But that said, we know where we went wrong in our last match, and we are determined to correct the wrongs from that day and get our season back on track.

1 – Steven Kitshoff (Ulster) – 73 caps, 10 pts (2t)

2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 60 caps, 75 pts (15t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 60 caps, 5 pts (1t)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 111 caps, 20 pts (4t)

5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 0 pts

6 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 11 caps, 0 pts

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 68 caps, 30 pts (6t)

8 – Duane Vermeulen (captain, SA Rugby) – 67 caps, 15 pts (3t)

9 – Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) – 3 caps, 0 pts

10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 5 caps, 19 pts (8c, 1p)

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 8 caps, 50 pts (10t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights) – 71 caps, 45 pts (9t)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 59 caps, 60 pts (12t)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 24 caps, 81 pts (12t, 3c, 5p)

15 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 85 caps, 65 pts (13t)

Replacements:

16 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 58 caps, 60 pts (12t)

17 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 59 caps, 5 pts (1t)

18 – Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks) – 43 caps, 0 pts

19 – RG Snyman (Munster) – 25 caps, 5 pts (1t)

20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 32 caps, 20 pts (4t)

21 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 47 caps, 44 pts (5t, 2c, 5p)

22 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 33 caps, 30 pts (6t)

23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 29 caps, 36 pts (2t, 4c, 4p, 2d)