Springbok team to play Argentina

The Bok team to face Argentina in a one-off test on Saturday in Johannesburg, was announced today.

Highlights

– Winger Jongi Nokwe of the Cheetahs makes his Bok debut as Bryan Habana is sidelined with a shoulder injury. De Villiers: “This is just reward for his play in the Super 14 and Currie Cup. He must now show he can make the step up and it also gives us a chance to see who the next guy is we can fall back on in case of injury.”

– Cheeky Watson jr starts at openside flank ahead of Schalk Burger who has been given more time to recuperate from his neck injury. De Villiers: “They both could’ve played, but we now have the luxury of giving them another week to recover.”

– Adi Jacobs returns at No 13 jersey after a hamstring strain,

– Jaque Fourie should make his Bok comeback off the bench.

– Fourie du Preez is also on the bench after recovering from a hand injury.

– Beast Mtawarira starts at loosehead. De Villiers: “Sometimes a player takes a step up and makes an impression. That is what he did, as did Adriaan Strauss. One won’t know if the player is good enough until he gets the chance.”

– Pierre Spies starts at eighthman with Joe van Niekerk on the bench.

Springboks

15. Conrad Jantjes
14. JP Pietersen
13. Adi Jacobs
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Jongi Nokwe
10. Butch James
09. Ricky Januarie

08. Pierre Spies
07. Juan Smith
06. Cheeky Watson jr
05. Victor Matfield (c)
04. Bakkies Botha
03. CJ van der Linde,
02. Bismarck du Plessis
01. Beast Mtawarira

16. Adriaan Strauss
17. Brian Mujati
18. Andries Bekker
19. Joe van Niekerk
20. Fourie du Preez
21. Jaque Fourie
22. Percy Montgomery

Argentina

15. Bernardo Stortoni
14. Jose Maria Nuñez Piossek
13. Federico Martin Aramburu
12. Miguel Avramovic
11. Horacio Agulla
10. Felipe Contepomi
09. Nicolas Vergallo

08. Juan Manuel Leguizamon
07. Juan Fernandez Lobbe
06. Martin Durand
05. Patricio Albacete
04. Rimas Alvarez
03. Pedro Ledesma
02. Mario Ledesma
01. Rodrigo Roncero

16. Alberto Vernet Basualdo
17. Marcos Ayerza
18. Esteban Lozada
19. Alvaro Galindo
20. Alfredo Lalanne
21. Benjamin Urdapilleta
22. Rafael Carballo