Boks call on stalwarts Kolisi, Etzebeth, Lood for Pumas clash in Buenos Aires

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Tuesday included a host of stalwarts, who will all make a timely return from injury – including captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Morne van den Berg – in a quality match-23 to face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker, who picked up niggles during the Nations Championship last month, also make their return in a starting team that shows 13 changes to the side that ran out against Wales in the Boks’ last Test.

Seven players who featured in the 43-0 victory over Wales in Durban retained their places in the match-23, only two of whom are the in the starting lineup in Aphelele Fassi (fullback) and Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf).

The other five players – Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese (all utility forwards), and Gerhard Steenekamp (prop) – have been named on the replacements bench.

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 will join forces with De Jager at lock, with Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, and Cameron Hanekom taking over the reins in the loose trio.

In the backline, Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu are the halfbacks, 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