South Africa rest seven players ahead of Argentina tour

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has rested seven players from the squad for the upcoming clash against Argentina to be played on 28th September.

Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Frans Malherbe (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (loose forward), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf), Damian de Allende (centre), Cheslin Kolbe (wing), and Willie le Roux (fullback) are the players missing out but is expected to be back for the return clash against the Pumas which will also be the final round of the competition.

Manie Libbok has made a return with the experienced Handre Pollard being the other fly-half in the squad as Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been rested. Malcolm Marx and Johan Grobbelaar will be the only two hookers in the 28-man squad.

“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 – to name a few – 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.”

Following back to back wins against New Zealand, South Africa hold the top place in the table with 18 points. Argentina are at second position in the table with 10 points followed by the All Blacks and Australia.

South Africa squad:

Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)