Thursday 18 August 2016 15:41, UK
South Africa and Argentina have both made five changes for their Rugby Championship opener at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 4.
Lions prop Julian Redelinghuys has been handed a first start by coach Allister Coetzee as he tinkers with his line-up following the hard-fought series win against Ireland in June.
Coetzee has also recalled experienced wing Bryan Habana, full-back Johan Goosen, flanker Oupa Mohoje and lock Lood de Jager.
Redelinghuys, who has four caps off the bench, comes in at tighthead as a replacement for Frans Malherbe, who is struggling with a neck injury.
Lock De Jager has recovered from the calf injury he sustained in the 2-1 home series win against Ireland and takes over the No 5 jersey from Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will provide cover from the bench.
The third change in the pack sees the return to the starting line-up of Mohoje as replacement for Siya Kolisi, who recently underwent ankle surgery.
In the back division, Springbok record try scorer Habana will run out in his 118th Test after he was named as left wing.
The versatile Goosen, who plays for French Top 14 champions Racing 92, is equally at home at fly-half and centre, has been entrusted with the full-back duties, the same position where he played in his previous outing for the Boks against Italy in 2014.
"Bryan still has a huge desire to play for the Springboks and he brings added leadership amongst our young backs," Coetzee said.
"Argentina are renowned for their strong scrummaging and mauling, very good defensively and have developed an attacking style of play which will test our defence."
Argentina have also changed five of the team soundly beaten at home by France two months ago.
A calf injury rules out Jeronimo de la Fuente and fellow centre Marias Moroni, scrum-half Tomas Cubelli, lock Guido Petti and flanker Javier Ortego Desio have been demoted.
Cubelli from Australian Super Rugby outfit ACT Brumbies - the only non Argentina-based player in the matchday 23 - Petti and Desio are among the replacements named by coach Daniel Hourcade.
Into the starting XV come centres Matias Orlando and veteran Juan Martin Hernandez, scrum-half Martin Landajo, lock Matias Alemanno and flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
South Africa: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 3 Julian Redlinghuys, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Oupa Mahoje, 8 Warren Whiteley.
Replacements: 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.
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Juan Martin Hernandez, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martinn Landajo; 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Matias Alemanno, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 8 Facundo Isa.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Felipe Arregui, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Ramiro Moyano.
