Sports News | Springboks Unchanged for Argentina in Rugby Championship
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. South Africa will field an unchanged starting 15 for its Rugby Championship match against Argentina as coach Jacques Nienaber opted for rare continuity on Tuesday having rotated his players for much of the season.
Buenos Aires, Sep 13 (AP) South Africa will field an unchanged starting 15 for its Rugby Championship match against Argentina as coach Jacques Nienaber opted for rare continuity on Tuesday having rotated his players for much of the season.
The only changes for the Springboks were on the bench, where loose forward Elrigh Louw, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and back Andre Esterhuizen are in for Duane Vermeulen, Cobus Reinach and Warrick Gelant.
That means a second test on the wing for teenager Canan Moodie, who made a try-scoring debut in the 24-8 win over Australia in Sydney just over a week ago.
Damian Willemse starts again at flyhalf in place of injured regular No. 10 Handré Pollard, who has returned home with a knee problem.
Also Read | India’s T20 World Cup 2022 Squad: Five Talking Points.
Backup flyhalf Elton Jantjies was sent home from Argentina after allegations in the South African media that he was involved in an affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee. She was also sent home.
“No team protocols were breached, but the individuals are returning to South Africa to attend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team's preparations for the test against Argentina,” SA Rugby said.
Nienaber said the aim for the world champion Springboks was to build on a first win in Australia in nine years when they face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
"That said we are expecting a bruising and intense battle against Argentina in front of a hostile crowd, and we have seen in the past how much confidence they draw from their fans at home.”
The Rugby Championship standings are tight after four of six rounds, with titleholder New Zealand top on 10 points and South Africa, Argentina and Australia all on nine points. Each team has won two and lost two.
Saturday's Springboks-Pumas test has been moved to a different stadium in Buenos Aires because of problems with the field at the initial venue.
___
South Africa: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Jaden Hendrikse; Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Frans Steyn. AP
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)