South Africa reacted to a first ever defeat to Argentina by making nine changes to its starting 15 yesterday for the return game in Buenos Aires this weekend.
The changes, some caused by injury, see fullback Zane Kirchner, wing Lwazi Mvovo, flyhalf Pat Lambie and forwards Willem Alberts, Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss and Trevor Nyakane all make their first starts this year.
Lock Victor Matfield returns to captain the team after Jean de Villiers was ruled out of Saturday’s game with a fractured jaw. The other change is a positional switch, with Jesse Kriel back at outside center after being tried out on the wing.
Hooker Schalk Brits and center Jan Serfontein are in the reserves and get the chance of a first appearance this year.
South Africa lost 37-25 to Argentina in the last round of the Rugby Championship on Saturday, a fourth straight loss for the Springboks, dropping them from No. 2 to No. 5 in the rankings.
This Saturday’s test in Buenos Aires is a World Cup warm-up game and South Africa’s last run out before rugby’s showpiece starts next month.
Kirchner was called in after regular fullback Willie le Roux was ruled out of the trip with an ankle problem to join a hefty injury list for the Springboks. Regular skipper De Villiers will be out for 4-6 weeks with a fractured jaw sustained in the Argentina loss, putting him in doubt for the World Cup after he had just returned from a long-term knee injury.
Lock Lood de Jager and prop Vincent Koch also won’t travel this weekend, the South African Rugby Union said, while scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is not yet fit for action.
Alberts’ return from injury to take up his No. 7 flanker position was a rare positive for coach Heyneke Meyer, who was already under pressure from back-to-back losses to Australia and New Zealand before the surprisingly comprehensive defeat at home by Argentina left his World Cup plans in turmoil.
South Africa, the two-time world champion, was outmuscled and outplayed by Argentina in Durban, and probably travels to Buenos Aires as the underdog.
“Our physicality was not what it should have been last week and we need to make a big step up in that department,” Meyer said. “We’re under no illusions how big the task is going to be over there but it’s a challenge we have to embrace and make the best out of.” AP
Lineup
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Lwazi Mvovo, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Pat Lambie, Ruan Pienaar; Schalk Burger, Willem Alberts, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield (captain), Eben Etzebeth, Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane.
Reserves: Schalk Brits, Tendai Mtawarira, Frans Malherbe, Flip van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Jan Serfontein.
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