Erasmus unveils exciting 28-man squad for key Rugby Championship clash in Argentina

The Bok coach said that he would be employing a split squad approach for the final two Tests of the Rugby Championship, with one group of players traveling to South America while another stays behind in South Africa to get some much-needed rest and prepare for the tournament finale - also against the Pumas - in Mbombela.

Erasmus has opted to rest seven players who have had a heavy workload in the last few months with an eye on the final round of the competition in Nelspruit on Saturday 28 September.

Those seven players are Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, and Willie le Roux.

However, many of the Boks' first-choice players will still be making the trip, no doubt mindful of Argentina's thumping 67-27 win over the Wallabies over the weekend. That includes the likes of captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Malcolm Marx, Kwagga Smith, Handre Pollard, Jesse Kriel and Makazole Mapimpi.

They are joined by exciting talents like Elrigh Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp, Canan Moodie, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Grant Williams and Aphelele Fassi, making for a squad that still looks very dangerous despite the missing stars.

Also joining the group is hooker Johan Grobbelaar, back in the squad after acquitting himself superbly in the Australian leg of the tournament.

"We have been open about our policy to try to give as many players in our wider squad as possible a chance to play against the top teams in the world," said Erasmus.

"We believe playing against Argentina in Santiago, where we are expecting a massive encounter in front of a hostile crowd, will serve as a great test for this group of players.

"The players we decided to rest have really done their bit this season and their bodies deserve a break, so we thought the best for them would be to enjoy a break and spend time with their families before joining us in Nelspruit.

"All of the players in the 28-man squad have been in the set-up this year and have proved their worth, so we are delighted to give them an opportunity to face Argentina on their home ground.

"Argentina proved last week what a force they can be at home by defeating the Wallabies by 67-27 in Santa Fe, so we know how tough the match will be against them, and this is exactly what we want our players to experience as we continue to build the group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia."

Erasmus named only two specialist hookers in the squad in Grobbelaar and Marx, while Am and Kriel are the only two specialist centres, but he said while Wessels and Marco van Staden could provide cover at hooker, Canan Moodie, who has played in the midfield for the Boks, could provide cover at centre, wing, and fullback.

"This is a short tour, and we are confident that we have sufficient cover in all the positions within this group," said Erasmus.

"Some players, such as Johan Grobbelaar, Manie Libbok, Jaden Hendrikse, and Canan Moodie â- to name a few â- will benefit immensely from more game time at this level, while other players such as Aphelele Fassi and Ben-Jason Dixon for example grabbed their chances with both hands this season and we are excited to see them back in action."

With the Boks in pole position to snap up the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, Erasmus said their main objective was to win the match in Argentina, although he was wary of the threat the hosts posed.

"We know how gruelling it's going to be over there and that it will take a massive effort to beat Argentina at home," said Erasmus.

"But as we've shown all season, we have full faith in all the players in our wider group and we believe that we have such a wealth of squad depth that any young player can step in and fill the boots of the more experienced players," said Erasmus.

"Although it will be tough, we want to see what these players can do in such a pressure-cooker of a game, and we are going there with the goal of winning the competition. This squad boasts a good mix of youth and experience, which we feel will bode well for the tour."

The squad will assemble in Stellenbosch on Wednesday afternoon to begin their preparations for the tour and will depart for Argentina on Saturday.

Springbok squad for Argentina tour

Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Backs: Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie.

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