Siya Kolisi returns to lead much-changed Springbok team in Buenos Aires

Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to the team that started the 43-0 win over Wales in round three of the Nations Championship in July for Saturday’s clash with the Pumas at Estadio José Amalfitani in Buenos Aires.

Double World Cup-wining captain Siya Kolisi missed the first three Tests of the year, but is back to lead the team from blindside.

The 35-year-old is joined in the starting line-up by other experienced internationals, such as fit-again lock duo, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, who’ve also been absent in 2026 and bring over 200 caps worth of experience to the team.

Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who scored a Springbok record 37  points against Argentina in Durban last year, returns after two months out with an ankle injury to take his place at 10.

Meanwhile, Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker have recovered from the niggles they suffered in the Nations Championship, to take their place at inside centre and left wing.

Scrum-half Cobus Reinach and full-back Aphelele Fassi are the only players to retain their spots in the starting XV from the win over Wales three weeks ago.

The starting team includes a completely new pack, with Boan Venter and Thomas du Toit packing down in the front row with Johan Grobbelaar, while Etzebeth and De Jager are in the egine room, with Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, and Cameron Hanekom taking over the reins in the loose trio.

In the backline, Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu are the half-backs, while Esterhuizen will partner Canan Moodie in the midfield. Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe, and Fassi form an exciting back three.

“This match is the perfect occasion for players like Siya, Eben, Lood, Sacha, Morne and the other players returning from injury to get a tough Test under the belt and get back into full swing at international level, as Argentina are a formidable team, who will push us to the limit,” said Erasmus.

“The guys have been working very hard to return from injury and there is no better test to measure where they are than facing the Pumas in Argentina.

“The other players in the squad also all deserve their places and have been waiting patiently as we tested combinations in the last few matches, and one can sense the excitement in the group to get back onto the field.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

4

Average Points scored

21

39

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

Erasmus added: “The Argentineans are very similar to South Africans in many ways. Their passion and patriotism for their country and people, and the way they give everything on the field and keep fighting is a testament to the type of Test match we are expecting this weekend.

“They have beaten us twice in Argentina before and they delivered brave performances in their Nations Championship matches, and will have a point to prove on Saturday, so we are fully aware of the challenge ahead.”

Erasmus was excited to see what the fresh mix of experienced and talented rising players could deliver against a quality Argentina team: “This squad includes a bunch of Rugby World Cup winners and extremely talented young players who have been looking forward to playing again for a while, and others who have been working hard week in and week out to play more regularly.

“They have all adapted very well to the time zone and showed true grit at training, so we have full faith that they will rise to the occasion.”

Zooming in on Los Pumas, Erasmus said: “They are a quality team with players who play in several different competitions and countries, and they are well coached under the guidance of Felipe Contepomi, so we have to be sharp from the outset, accurate in our execution, and convert the chances we create into points if we want to get the desired result.

“They have a strong forward pack and dangerous backs, and they will have a very passionate crowd behind them, so we will have to be at our best to win this match.

“We’ve had to grind out results against them on several occasions in the past, so it will take a proper 80-minute effort this weekend, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

The match, which will be hosted at Estadio José Amalfitani in the Argentinean capital, kicks off at 21h00 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok team to face Argentina:

15 Aphelele Fassi (17 caps)
14 Edwill van der Merwe (6 caps)
13 Canan Moodie (25 caps)
12 Andre Esterhuizen (30 caps)
11 Ethan Hooker (9 caps)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (18 caps)
9 Cobus Reinach (52 caps)

1 Boan Venter (9 caps)
2 Johan Grobbelaar (9 caps)
3 Thomas du Toit (33 caps)
4 Eben Etzebeth (141 caps)
5 Lood de Jager (73 caps)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, 103 caps)
7 Elrigh Louw (14 caps_
8 Cameron Hanekom (2 caps)

Replacements:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (12 caps)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (18 caps)
18 Zachary Porthen (5 caps)
19 Ben-Jason Dixon (10 caps)
20 Cobus Wiese (4 caps)
21 Marco van Staden (35 caps)
22 Morne van den Berg (6 caps)
23 Handre Pollard (86 caps)