South Africa Rugby Championship Squad 2022

Who has made Jacques Nienaber’s latest match-day squad?

Frans Steyn will start at fly-half for the Boks this weekend (Getty Images)

South Africa Rugby Championship Squad 2022

Jacques Nienaber has made two changes to his South Africa starting XV for their match against Argentina this weekend.

Frans Steyn starts at fly-half with Damian Willemse injured in Saturday’s win over the Pumas while Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to start in the back row, with Franco Mostert dropping to the bench.

The Rugby Championship has proved very competitive this year and the Springboks go into the final round level on match points with New Zealand, who face Australia in the earlier match on Saturday.

While the All Blacks currently top the table on points difference, the Boks will know what they need to do to win the title when they take the field in Durban.

“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.

“They defeated New Zealand away from home against the odds and they registered a convincing victory against Australia at home, so we know we are in for a massive battle.

“There will be a few keys to victory this week, and these include set-piece dominance, using our opportunities and ensuring that we do the right things in specific areas of the field. It is all or nothing for us this week.”

South Africa team to play Argentina – Saturday 24 September

Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Frans Steyn, Jaden Hendrikse; Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Kurt-Lee Arendse.

South Africa team to play Argentina – Saturday 17 September

Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Damian Willemse, Jaden Hendrikse; Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Frans Steyn.

South Africa team to play Australia – Saturday 3 September

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Kwagga Smith, Duane Vermeulen, Cobus Reinach, Frans Steyn, Warrick Gelant.

South Africa team to play Australia – Saturday 27 August

Damian Willemse; Warrick Gelant, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Elton Jantjies, Frans Steyn.

South Africa team to play New Zealand – Saturday 13 August

Damian Willemse; Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Handre Pollard, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith, Hershel Jantjies, Willie le Roux.

South Africa team to play New Zealand – Saturday 6 August

Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Trevor Nyakane, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Willie le Roux.

South Africa Rugby Championship Squad 2022

Jacques Nienaber has been able to recall two experienced Springboks to the South Africa squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.

Rugby World Cup winners Duane Vermeulen (knee) and Frans Steyn (hamstring) missed the recent Test series against Wales due to injury, but the South Africa coach has named the pair in his 41-player squad for the two Tests against New Zealand at the start of August.

Winger Cheslin Kolbe will not be involved, however, having broken his jaw in the Wales series while Aphelele Fassi and Marcell Coetzee have also been omitted from the squad.

Nienaber said: “We will enter the competition with a series win against Wales, which will give us a little confidence, especially after the way we played in the deciding Test against Wales, but back-to-back matches against the All Blacks is a completely different challenge, and we know that they will come here wanting to make amends for losing their last two matches against Ireland.

“The way we perform in those Tests will set the tone for the rest of the competition.”

Forwards

Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)

Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

Joseph Dweba (Stormers)

Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse)

Eben Etzebeth (Sharks)

Deon Fourie (Stormers)

Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)

Vincent Koch (Wasps)

Siya Kolisi (Sharks)