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Matfield is really retiring this time. Honestly. Alastair Grant
last stand

Matfield to captain Springboks in final game before retirement

Also, Ruan Pienaar is back in the starting line-up.

VICTOR MATFIELD WILL captain South Africa in his final game before retirement on Friday night.

The 38-year-old, who initially retired from the game in 2011 before returning last year, starts in the second row as one of two changes for the Rugby World Cup third-place playoff against Argentina.

Matfield starts alongside Eben Etzebeth in the second row, replacing Lood de Jager who drops to the bench.

The game also sees Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar return to the starting side, having lost his place to Fourie du Preez.

With du Preez out, it means that Rudy Paige fills the void on the bench, in the only other change to the matchday squad from last Saturdays semi-final defeat.

South Africa (v Argentina)

15. Willie le Roux
14. JP Pietersen
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian De Allende
11. Bryan Habana
10. Handré Pollard
9. Ruan Pienaar

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Victor Matfield (captain)
6. Francois Louw
7. Schalk Burger
8. Duane Vermeulen

Replacements:

16. Adriaan Strauss
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Jannie du Plessis
19. Lood de Jager
20. Willem Alberts
21. Rudy Paige
22. Pat Lambie
23. Jan Serfontein

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