Springboks to use Argentina Test as injury comeback springboard before All Blacks series

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says this weekend’s Test against Argentina will double as a key selection and fitness trial for a host of players returning from injury ahead of South Africa’s looming four-match series against New Zealand in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

Erasmus confirmed on Tuesday that several senior players who missed the Nations Championship are in line to feature against the Pumas, using the Buenos Aires clash to sharpen their match fitness before facing the All Blacks.

“It is a really good time for us, and it’s against a quality team,” Erasmus said when asked about the significance of the Argentina fixture for those coming back from lay-offs. “You will quickly see who is ready two weeks after that match to play against New Zealand.”

The Springboks meet the All Blacks in a high-profile four-Test run that will be framed as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, and Erasmus is eager to have his full complement of frontline players up to speed before that series begins.

Kolisi and Sacha among key returnees

Among those expected to be involved against Argentina are captain Siya Kolisi and versatile back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, both of whom have been carefully managed in recent weeks as they work back towards full fitness.

Erasmus also pointed to fly-half Handre Pollard, Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie and scrum-half Morne van den Berg as players likely to be included in the matchday squad for Buenos Aires.

“Sacha playing his first game again with Handre, depending on which we start there,” Erasmus explained. “Ethan is fully fit, but he’s trained with us for seven weeks. So he’s not really coming back from injury, but he hasn’t had any game time.”

“Then Canan had a bit of a hamstring but he played a lot of URC rugby. He’s back into the mix. A guy like Edwill [van der Merwe] will probably get a run, and [Aphelele] Fassi again with Quan Horn, maybe off the bench.”

Ethan Hooker’s situation is slightly different to others in the group: he has not been sidelined by injury, but has gone a lengthy spell without playing, making this Test a vital opportunity to get minutes under his belt at international level.

Fixture timing ‘perfect’ despite different original purpose

Although the Argentina match was arranged well in advance of the current injury picture within the Springbok squad, Erasmus believes the scheduling has ultimately played into South Africa’s hands.

“It wasn’t planned with that reason in mind. It was always about honouring our relationship with Argentina,” he said. “But yes, rightly so. Most of those guys will be involved.”

The Test provides the world champions with a competitive environment to assess players’ readiness for the intensity of back-to-back clashes against the All Blacks, while also maintaining a long-standing commitment to fixtures against the Pumas.

Erasmus has repeatedly highlighted the importance of giving those on the comeback trail enough game time to handle the demands of top-tier Test rugby, and the trip to Buenos Aires is seen as the final step in that process before New Zealand arrive.

Result against Pumas ‘non-negotiable’

While the match offers vital preparation for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, Erasmus was adamant that performance and result against Argentina remain paramount.

“We want to beat Argentina,” he said. “Our biggest hiding ever, since I’ve been involved with the Springboks, was against Argentina.”

That reference underlines the respect within the Springbok camp for the Pumas’ threat, particularly at home, and the determination not to treat the contest as a mere warm-up despite its clear strategic value in player management.

Erasmus is expected to confirm his travelling squad for the Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with selection likely to reflect a balance between reintroducing key figures, rewarding form, and ensuring the side is strong enough to secure a win against Argentina while fine-tuning for the All Blacks series to follow.