SOUTH AFRICA HAVE changed eight of the team humiliated at home by Argentina last weekend for a Test rematch in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
In come full-back Zane Kirchner, winger Lwazi Mvovo, fly-half Patrick Lambie, front rowers Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss and Marcel van der Merwe, lock Victor Matfield and loose forward Willem Alberts.
And out go injured quintet Willie le Roux, skipper Jean de Villiers, Vincent Koch, Lood de Jager and Marcell Coetzee, plus Handre Pollard, Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis.
There is also one positional switch with Jesse Kriel moving from the right wing to outside centre, from where he scored tries against Australia and New Zealand in other Rugby Championship games.
With the Championship finished, the Buenos Aires Test is the last for both countries before they name 31-man squads for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on September 18 in England.
Veteran lock Matfield leads the side in the absence of injury-plagued centre De Villiers, who fractured his jaw during the 37-25 loss to the Pumas, but will be available for World Cup selection.
It was the first time the Springboks lost to the South Americans in 20 Tests and the most embarrassing defeat for the green and gold since a 49-0 meltdown in Australia nine years ago.
Meyer also used today’s team announcement to respond to a statement by South African Trade Union Cosatu, who claimed his team selections were “racist”.
The trade union claimed that five non-white Springboks approached them about their unhappiness, and that a further two white players were backing them.
However, Meyer said that skin colour has no impact on his selections, saying that his only interest was getting the best players on the field.
“I don’t look at colour, I look at the best players. I’m totally committed to transformation and I have a great relationship with my players.
“A lot of them came to me and said, ‘coach, it’s not true what’s in the papers… we stand by you, we know exactly where we stand.’ I’m there for them,” said Meyer.
“We’re all South Africans and we’re all there as a team to do the best for our country. We have to back each other in this country as players.”
South Africa (v Argentina)
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Lwazi Mvovo
13. Jesse Kriel
12.Damian de Allende
11. Bryan Habana
10. Patrick Lambie
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Trevor Nyakane
2. Adriaan Strauss
3. Marcel van der Merwe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Victor Matfield (captain)
6. Heinrich Brussow
7. Willem Alberts
8. Schalk Burger
Replacements
16.Schalk Brits
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Frans Malherbe
19. Flip van der Merwe
20. Pieter-Steph du Toit
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Handre Pollard
23. Jan Serfontein
Additional reporting by Neil Treacy
Originally published at 15.15
