Rassie Erasmus forced into late Springboks change ahead of crucial Rugby Championship clash with Argentina

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has promoted Boan Venter to his starting line-up as a late change ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Durban.

The 28-year-old comes into the run-on side at loosehead prop as a replacement for Ox Nche, who has withdrawn due to a niggle.

Venter’s promotion to the starting team has seen Erasmus making further alterations to his replacements bench with Marco van Staden now being drafted into the matchday 23.

Marco van Staden to cover hooker

Van Staden, who usually packs down in the back-row as an openside flanker, comes in as the back-up hooker while Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who was originally named for that position, will now serve as the replacement loosehead prop on the bench.

Venter, who plies his trade with United Rugby Championship outfit Edinburgh, will pack down in the front-row alongside Malcolm Marx (hooker) and Thomas du Toit (tighthead prop).

Meanwhile, Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje will pack down in the second-row for South Africa with captain Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit continuing as the starting flankers and Jasper Wiese retains his spot at number eight.

In the backline, veteran scrum-half Cobus Reinach and rookie fly-half are the starting half-backs while Damian de Allende and Canan Moodie form the centre combination.

With De Allende back in the run-on side, Damian Willemse shifts to full-back and he is joined in the back three by excitement machine Cheslin Kolbe and Ethan Hooker, who are the starting wings.

Sir John Kirwan: ‘Rassie Erasmus is not a Springboks coach, he’s a South African god’

Erasmus has once again opted for a five/three split between forwards and backs on his bench with Wilco Louw, RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith joining Van Staden and Wessels as the replacements for the pack.

Meanwhile, Morne van den Berg, Manie Libbok and Andre Esterhuizen will provide backline cover.

After four rounds of action all four of the competing nations still have a chance of winning this year’s Rugby Championship.

Each team has won two and lost as many Tests with the Wallabies setting the pace atop the table with 11 points, one ahead of the Springboks and All Blacks, and two clear of Los Pumas.

Revised Springboks team to face Argentina

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen

Date: Saturday, September 27
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:10 local (16:10 BST, 15:10 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)

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