Cameron Hanekom the big Bok winner in Buenos Aires

Cameron Hanekom has played himself into Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series after a strong performance against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

The Boks were always going to be in a grind, given the selection of a match 23 in which so many players had not been in action for some time.

Game minutes were not the friend of the match 23 asked to condemn Argentina to a third defeat at home in their last four matches.

But game minutes is what Rassie Erasmus got for those players returning from lengthy lay-offs.

The obvious downer on a difficult night against the Pumas was Siya Kolisi’s hamstring going in the 24th minute and Andre Esterhuizen suffering a second concussion in a month.

Kolisi won’t start the opening Test against the All Blacks and could miss the entire series. Scans will reveal the damage but it does not look good for the inspirational Bok captain.

Eben Etzebeth played his first Test of the year and just his second match of the year. He completed the 80 minutes and took over the captaincy from Kolisi.

Lood de Jager started and got through more than a half. Ethan Hooker played the full 80 minutes and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu played 60 minutes at flyhalf and 20 at fullback.

These were massive positives.

This was always going to be tough, considering Erasmus changed the entire starting pack from the previous Nations Championship Test against Wales, which the Boks won 43-0.

He left the core of what is expected to be the match-day squad for the opening Test against the All Blacks in South Africa.

The Boks coach made some big calls in selection for the trip to Buenos Aires and came away with a win.

Defensively, he will be pleased because the Boks did not concede a point for the final hour after Argentina had led 10-3 after minutes.

Defensively, the Boks defended 15 phases to deny the Pumas a potential try-scoring opportunity after the hooter.

Consider the match 23 for the season’s opening Nations Championship Test against England at Ellis Park.

Tighthead prop Thomas du Toit was the only player, who started against Argentina, to start against England.

Realistically, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, at flyhalf and Etzebeth, at lock, will start against the All Blacks at Ellis Park in a fortnight.

It gives context to Saturday night’s Test in Buenos Aires.

The match was about game time for those returning from injury and also to ensure the bench is battle hardened and conditioned to start Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series.

It is here where Hanekom is the big winner. He started against England and played the first half.

His 78 minutes in Buenos Aires is the most he has played in a match for the Boks in his three Tests.

He was outstanding.

Boks bench inspires 17-10 win against Argentina.