Springboks, Pumas make tweaks for Mendoza

Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 1:19 AM
AFP
by AFP
The Springboks and Pumas have made changes to their squads ahead of their second Test. Photo: Getty Images
The Springboks and Pumas have made changes to their squads ahead of their second Test. Photo: Getty Images

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has ditched six of his original Rugby Championship squad for a second-round match against Argentina in Mendoza this Saturday.

Out of the 35-man squad go backs Lwazi Mvovo, Jesse Kriel and Ross Cronje and forwards Marvin Orie, Jean-Luc du Preez and Sikhumbuzo Notshe.

A seventh absentee is flanker Cyle Brink, who had knee surgery last week and will be out of action for an undisclosed period.

The Springboks did not impress for much of a 34-21 victory over the Pumas in Durban this weekend and Erasmus has promised "four or five changes" for the reverse fixture.

The Pumas have softened their eligibility rules. Photo: Getty ImagesMeanwhile Argentina have eased their self-imposed restriction on European-based rugby players to strengthen their squad for their match against South Africa.

The Pumas have called four new faces into their squad for next weekend's Rugby Championship match at home to the Springboks.

Argentina, who lost their opener 34-21 in Durban on Saturday, brought back Jeronimo de la Fuente after injury and called up backs Santiago Alvarez Fourcade and Santiago Carreras for the first time, the team announced via Twitter.

Uncapped hooker Facundo Bosch was also drafted in from his club side Agen in France.

The Argentines played the last two Rugby Championships without any European-based players but they have eased that self-imposed restriction this time in a bid to make themselves more competitive with the best of the southern hemisphere.

They play South Africa in Mendoza on Saturday.

The Pumas host the Springboks in Mendoza on Sunday morning, kicking off at 5:10am AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

SQUADS

Pumas to face Springboks in Mendoza

Matias Alemanno

Santiago Alvarez Fourcade

Gonzalo Bertranou

Emiliano Boffelli

Facundo Bosch

Rodrigo Bruni

Santiago Carreras

Agustin Creevy

Tomas Cubelli

Jeronimo De la Fuente

Bautista Delguy

Bautista Ezcurra

Juan Figallo

Diego Fortuny

Santiago Garcia Botta

Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias

Marcos Kremer

Martin Landajo

Tomas Lavanini

Tomas Lezana

Juan Cruz Mallia

Pablo Matera

Santiago Medrano

Matias Moroni

Ramiro Moyano

Javier Ortega Desio

Guido Petti

Nicolas Sanchez

Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Juan Pablo Zeiss

Springboks to travel to Mendoza

Forwards 

Eben Etzebeth

Steven Kitshoff

Siya Kolisi (capt)

Francois Louw

Wilco Louw

Malcolm Marx

Frans Malherbe

Akker van der Merwe,

Franco Mostert

Bongi Mbonambi

Tendai Mtawarira

RG Snyman

Marco van Staden

Pieter-Steph du Toit

Thomas du Toit

Warren Whiteley

Backs

Lukhanyo Am

Aphiwe Dyantyi

Andre Esterhuizen

Elton Jantjies

Faf de Klerk

Lionel Mapoe

Makazole Mapimpi

Embrose Papier

Handre Pollard

Willie le Roux

Damian Willemse

Ivan van Zyl

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