Kolisi, Etzebeth and Feinberg-Mngomezulu return for Springboks’ Argentina Test

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morne van den Berg have been included in South Africa’s 26-man squad for their crucial one-off Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, 8 August.

The five players are returning from injury, giving national coach Rassie Erasmus a significant boost as his side prepares to face Los Pumas. The squad also includes several players who have been managed carefully and had a reduced workload in recent weeks.

South Africa will travel to South America in two groups on Saturday for the match, which kicks off at 21:00 South Africa time and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The return of Kolisi and Etzebeth provides experience in the Springboks’ forward pack, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Van den Berg strengthen the options among the backs. De Jager is also available again as South Africa begins preparations for its latest major Test challenge.

Erasmus named the touring group after a training camp that concluded on Thursday afternoon. The coach said the sessions had helped reinforce the standards expected from the players before the Argentina match.

“We had a series of productive sessions throughout the week, and all the players know what we expect of them, so everyone understands the importance of building on our season.”

Several players involved in South Africa’s opening four matches of the season will not travel to Argentina. Cheslin Kolbe, Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel and Ruan Nortje are among those who will meet again at the team’s training base in Johannesburg on Sunday.

That group will begin preparations for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against New Zealand, with South Africa’s wider squad therefore split between the Argentina assignment and the work already under way for the forthcoming contest.

The Springboks’ travelling squad to Argentina is:

Forwards: Lood de Jager, Ben-Jason Dixon, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Zachary Porthen, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese.

Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Herschel Jantjies, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg and Edwill van der Merwe.