Mostert joins starting lineup: Springbok squad to face Argentina in Mendoza

Rassie Eramsus had made only one change to the starting XV from last week’s win as Franco Mostert replaces Pieter-Steph Du Toit at number 5.

Mostert was rested for last week’s Rugby Championship opener after a year of head vy game time both internationally and for the Lions during Super Rugby. His return to the fold sees Du Toit moves to the bench, where he will offer versatility at both blindside and lock later in the match.

“Franco needed rest after Super Rugby and the June internationals and we therefore didn’t consider him for Durban. He’s been our first-choice No 5 lock and that’s why is starting on Saturday.” said Erasmus.

RG Snyman, who started in the Springboks’ June series win against England replaces Marvin Orie (who did not tour) on the bench, while Wilco Louw, another player carrying a big workload this year, comes in for Thomas Du Toit among the subs.

Erasmus has left the backline unchanged and opted not to alter the loose forward combination of the previous week, saying “I want to us to build more continuity and those combinations now have another opportunity to play together and gain more experience.”

Looking to the game on Saturday Erasmus said “We’ve always rated them as a very physical team and we felt the game (in Durban) was physical. They’re going to step it up and I think they will come hard at our mauling, scrums and the breakdowns.”

SPRINGBOKS

Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Francois Louw, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Damian Willemse

ARGENTINA

TBA

Springboks vs Argentina in Mendoza starts at 21:10 (SA time), televised live on SuperSport 1.

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