Tweaks for Pumas and Springboks in Salta clash
South Africa have made one injury-enforced change from the team that defeated Argentina last weekend for the Rugby Championship return match in Salta Saturday.
An ankle injury rules out scrum-half Ross Cronje and experienced Francois Hougaard comes off the bench to replace him in the starting line-up.
Rudy Paige has been promoted to the replacements' bench as scrum-half cover with the Springboks seeking a fifth consecutive victory this season.
"Francois has played a lot of Test rugby, his work ethic is second to none and he has been working hard until now since joining the squad," Coetzee told reporters in Buenos Aires.
"Rudy made a good impact in the third Test against France and I expect the same from him this weekend."
Before a 37-12 Championship victory over Los Pumas in Port Elizabeth last Saturday, resurgent South Africa completed a 3-0 Test series whitewash over France during June.
Coach Allister Coetzee had a horror debut season last year, losing a calendar-year record eight Tests out of 12, including a first to European rugby lightweights Italy.
The 54-year-old former provincial scrum-half and coach of Super Rugby outfit Western Stormers said he was thrilled by the healthy competition for places.
“The players outside of the match 23 are all knocking on the door and that is a great position to be in."
Argentina has reshuffled its backline, with former Brumbies halfback Tomas Cubelli and Juan Martin Hernandez starting over Martin Landajo and Nicolas Sanchez.
South Africa and Argentina have met twice in northwestern city Salta with the Springboks winning 33-31 three years ago and Argentina turning the tables with a 26-24 victory last season.
Argentina hosts South Africa in their second Rugby Championship match in Salta, kicking off on Sunday morning at 5:40am AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
TEAMS
South Africa to take on Argentina
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Franco Mostert
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Jaco Kirel
8. Uzair Cassiem
9. Francois Hougaard
10. Leton Jantjies
11. Courtnall Skosan
12. Jan Serfontein
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Raymond Rhule
15. Andries Coetzee
Reserves
16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Trevor Nyakane
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit
20. Jean-Luc Du Preez
21. Rudy Paige
22. Curwin Bosch
23. Damian De Allende
Argentina to take on South Africa
1. Lucas Noguera
2. Agustin Creevy
3. Ramiro Herrera
4. Matias Alemanno
5. Tomas Lavanini
6. Pablo Matera
7. Tomas Lezana
8. Juan Manuel Leguizamon
9. Tomas Cubelli
10. Juan Martin Hernandez
11. Emiliano Boffelli
12. Jeronimo de la Fuente
13. Matias Orlando
14. Ramiro Moyano
15. Joaquin Tuculet
Reserves
16. Julian Montoya
17. Santiago Garcia Botta
18. Enrique Pieretto
19. Marcos Kremer
20. Javier Ortega Desio
21. Martin Landajo
22. Nicolas Sanchez
23. Matias Moroni
