Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has made four strategic changes to his match-23 for the highly anticipated Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
The Boks will look to seal the title for a second consecutive year when they face the Pumas in London. By the time the match kicks off, they will already know exactly what is required to secure the trophy.
Returning to the starting line-up is loosehead prop Ox Nché, who missed the previous clash in Durban due to a minor injury. His presence in the front row, alongside hooker Malcolm Marx and tighthead Thomas du Toit, will strengthen the Springboks as they aim to dominate the Argentines again at scrum time.
In addition to Nché’s inclusion, three players are set to make an impact from the bench: Grant Williams returns as the scrumhalf and wing replacement, veteran Bongi Mbonambi provides hooker cover, and utility back Jesse Kriel is also in the mix. The five-three split on the bench underlines Erasmus’s strategy of blending power with versatility to adapt to various game situations.
The rest of the squad is unchanged from the 67-30 demolition of Argentina in Durban last weekend. Lock Eben Etzebeth will win his 138th Test cap alongside lineout specialist Ruan Nortjé, with the pair again tasked to disrupt the Pumas’ throw-ins.
Captain Siya Kolisi is also set to make his 98th appearance, leading an experienced loose trio with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese.
In the backline, the Springboks have retained the halfback pairing of Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Feinberg-Mngomezulu was the standout performer in Durban, scoring a record-breaking 37 points, and will once again direct a dangerous backline.
Ox Nche is back as Rassie Erasmus makes a few minor tweaks to the #Springboks side for Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider in London 🐂
Catch all the action live on @SSRugby 👍#ForeverGreenForeverGold— Springboks (@Springboks) September 30, 2025
“This match is a final for us, and we know how dangerous Argentina can be, so we selected combinations we feel are best suited for this game,” said Erasmus.
“There are minimal personnel changes, with the bulk of the team having done the job for us last week against the Pumas in Durban and in our other Rugby Championship matches. Ox and Grant could have played last week if we really needed them, but Boan (Venter) and Morné (van den Berg) did really well. Jesse was rotated in the last two matches and is raring to go. The same applies to Bongi, who last played against Australia and is excited for this opportunity.
“Their experience, combined with the younger players in the squad, makes this an exciting team — exactly what we need in a match that will essentially decide the Rugby Championship.”
Springboks team
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 (captain), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jesse Kriel.
