Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made only two changes to his starting team for Saturday’s final round Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test against Argentina at Kings Park in Durban, while he also opted to name six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench.

Experienced utility back Frans Steyn will start at flyhalf in place of the injured Damian Willemse, while Pieter Steph du Toit returns to the starting lineup at flanker in place of Franco Mostert, who will provide an impact off the bench.

The notable changes amongst the replacements are the return of hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who makes a welcome return from a knee injury, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has completed his suspension following a dangerous tackle last month.

Mbonambi will be joined by strong reinforcements in Vincent Koch (prop) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8), who join Mostert and Kwagga Smith as the forwards on the bench.

Faf de Klerk and Arendse, meanwhile, will provide cover amongst the backs, with De Klerk earmarked as the back-up scrumhalf and flyhalf cover, while Arendse will cover fullback and wing depending on how the match unfolds.

The Springboks are currently level on 14 log points with New Zealand on the Castle Lager Rugby Championship log and trail the All Blacks by 13 points on points’ difference. The Boks, however, will know exactly what they need to do in the match to clinch the title when they take the field as the All Blacks will host Australia in Auckland earlier in the day.

With the match essentially a final, Nienaber admitted that his team were ready for an epic battle, especially with Argentina and Australia also still in the title race depending on the outcome of the two matches.

“We viewed last week as a semi-final and this week as a final, but Argentina are a team that do not give an inch, and they never stop fighting as we saw last week,” said Nienaber.

Springbok team to face Argentina in Durban:

15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 78 caps.

14 – Canan Moodie (Bulls) – 2 caps.

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 55 caps.

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 65 caps.

11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) – 32 caps.

10 – Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 77 caps.

9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks) – 9 caps.

8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 17 caps.

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 63 caps.

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks) – 70 caps.

5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 63 caps.

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Sharks) – 105 caps.

3 – Frans Malherbe (Stormers) – 53 caps.

2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 54 caps.

1 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) – 66 caps.

 Replacements:

16 – Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks) – 51 caps.

17 – Ox Nche (Sharks) – 14 caps.

18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) – 36 caps.

19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 58 caps.

20 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 64 caps.

21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 26 caps.

22 – Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 41 caps.

23 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls) – 2 caps.

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