De Klerk and Koch in Springbok team
The Springbok team to take on Argentina has been announced
Faf de Klerk and Vincent Koch have been selected for the Springbok team that will face Argentina in a Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
The team was announced at a press conference earlier this afternoon.
De Klerk retains the number nine jersey he wore in the Incoming Test Series against Ireland. He will earn his fourth Springbok cap.
Tighthead prop, Koch, will play off the bench for this third cap. Mbombela-born De Klerk played 56 matches for the Steval Pumas from 2012 to 2015.
Tighthead prop Koch made his debut for the Steval Pumas in 2013 and has played 52 matches for the team, scoring eight tries. He will join Saracens in England at the end of this Southern Hemisphere season.
Bryan Habana makes his return to the team as the starting left wing. Habana last played for the Boks at the 2015 World Cup.
“It great to be back. I know I have to make a difference on the field. To be part of a new journey with a new group of players that are starting a new culture is really great,” said the 117-cap legend.
The Lions trio of Warren Whiteley, De Klerk at scrum half and Elton Jantjies at fly half could ignite the backline. Johan Goosen will play at fullback and his decision making should give the Bok backs the flair they lacked against Ireland.
The Springboks scrum will have to be at its best. Veteran Beast Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss and inexperienced, but highly rated Julian Redelinghuys will face a war of attrition.
Kick-off is at 17:00 and tickets are still available at Computicket outlets and as the stadium.
The stadium ticket office will be closed on Saturday.
The team is:
15: Johan Goosen; 14: Ruan Combrick; 13: Lionel Mapoe; 12: Damian de Allende; 11: Bryan Habana (vice-captain); 10: Elton Jantjies; 9: Faf de Klerk; 8: Warren Whiteley; 7: Oupa Mahoje; 6: Francois Louw; 5: Lood de Jager; 4: Eben Etzebeth; 3: Julian Redelinghuys; 2 : Adriaan Strauss (captain); 1: Tendai Mtwarira.
16: Bongi Mbonambi; 17: Steven Kitshoff; 18: Vincent Koch; 19: Pieter-Steph du Toit; 20 : Jaco Kriel; 21: Rudy Paige; 22: Juan de Jongh; 23: Jesse Kriel.
