Eben Etzebeth is poised to make history as he becomes the most-capped Springbok of all time when he takes the field at lock for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship finale against Argentina in Nelspruit this Saturday.
In this pivotal match, Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok will start as halfbacks for the first time, reflecting six personnel changes from the 23 who narrowly lost 29-28 to Argentina in Santiago del Estero last weekend. Key returning players include Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Frans Malherbe (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (flanker), Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Damian de Allende (centre), and Siya Kolisi (flanker), who resumes the captaincy after a brief absence.
This revamped lineup mirrors the starting pack that triumphed over New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town, along with the same five forward replacements. The Springboks need just one point in this match to secure their first Castle Lager Rugby Championship title since the shortened version in 2019 and their first full tournament title since 2009.
Even if Argentina manages to win without a bonus point, the Springboks will still clinch the championship based on overall competition points. The only scenario in which the Boks would lose the title is if Los Pumas win with a bonus point while denying South Africa any points, which would grant Argentina the title due to their victories over the Springboks.
Springbok Team to Face Argentina:
- 15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 8 caps, 20 points
- 14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 37 caps, 96 points
- 13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 76 caps, 85 points
- 12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 84 caps, 55 points
- 11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 21 caps, 85 points
- 10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 94 points
- 9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 17 caps, 12 points
- 8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 30 caps, 5 points
- 7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 83 caps, 45 points
- 6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 88 caps, 60 points
- 5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 0 points
- 4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 127 caps, 30 points
- 3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 75 caps, 5 points
- 2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 74 caps, 75 points
- 1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 36 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
- 16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 72 caps, 100 points
- 17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 points
- 18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 57 caps, 0 points
- 19 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps, 0 points
- 20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 48 caps, 45 points
- 21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 36 caps, 70 points
- 22 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 76 caps, 749 points
- 23 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 35 points
As the Springboks prepare for this crucial match, all eyes will be on Etzebeth as he etches his name into the record books.
