Vermeulen leads much-changed Boks against Pumas as Williams, Libbok and Arendse earn starts

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has made several changes to his team to face Argentina in their final Rugby Championship Test of the season at Ellis Park on Saturday.

No 8 Duane Vermeulen is back to lead the Boks, having also done so in the 43-12 win over Australia at Loftus a few weeks ago.

The Bok starting XV features nine changes to the one that went down 35-20 to the All Blacks in Auckland earlier this month.

Notably, there is a new halfback pairing with Grant Williams starting at scrumhalf in place of Faf de Klerk and Manie Libbok taking the No 10 jersey from Damian Willlemse.

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The Bok mentor also rotated his loose forwards, with the trio of Vermeulen 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).

The three backline reserves are the versatile Willemse, De Klerk (scrumhalf) and Lukhanyo Am (centre).

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11