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South Africa captain Kolisi to make Test return in Argentina / Photo: © AFP
South Africa captain Kolisi to make Test return in Argentina
South Africa flanker Siya Kolisi will make his first Test appearance of the season when he captains the world champions against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
After playing in a non-cap exhibition match against the Barbarians two months ago, the skipper missed Nations Championship victories over England, Scotland and Wales due to injury.
His return is one of 13 changes to the line-up that started a 43-0 romp against Wales in Durban last month.
The only survivors for the one-off Test at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium in the Argentine capital are full-back Aphelele Fassi and scrum-half Cobus Reinach.
A much-changed team was inevitable as head coach Rassie Erasmus left many of those who played in the Nations Championship at home to prepare for a four-Test series against New Zealand.
Branded the "Greatest Rivalry" series, the Springboks face the All Blacks twice in Johannesburg, once in Cape Town and finally in American city Baltimore from August 22.
Apart from Kolisi, the Argentina Test presents a number of other South Africans a first Test outing of the season after missing the three home internationals during June due to injury.
They include fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and locks Eben Etzebeth, who has made a record 141 Test appearances for the Rugby World Cup holders, and Lood de Jager.
Scrum-half Morne van den Berg, another recent injury casualty, is one of two backs in a six-two split on the bench.
"This match is the perfect occasion for players like Siya, Eben, Lood, Sacha and Morne to get a tough Test under the belt and get back into full swing at international level," said Erasmus.
"The guys have been working very hard to return from injury and there is no better test to measure where they are than facing the Pumas in Argentina."
South Africa have played 18 Tests in Argentina from 1993. The record four-time World Cup winners have won 14, lost three and drawn one.
South Africa (15-1)
Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Siya Kolisi (capt); Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Cobus Wiese, Marco van Staden, Morne van den Berg, Handre Pollard
Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)
P. Hansen--BTZ
