Bismarck du Plessis will play in his 50th Test for South Africa off the bench against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday, with four DHL WP players named for the Boks again this weekend.
Du Plessis has been selected on the bench after Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer decided to select an unchanged starting 15 for the second round of The Castle Lager Rugby Championship, with Adriaan Strauss starting in the No.2 jersey.
The matchday 23 shows only one change from the team that beat the Pumas by 73-13 last weekend – Jano Vermaak comes onto the bench as replacement scrumhalf for Fourie du Preez.
If Vermaak gets game-time, he will play in his second Test after making his Springbok debut in Durban against Italy in June. He picked up an unfortunate injury in that Test, which ruled him out of the rest of the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
“We’re fortunate that we are able to keep an unchanged team for this Test,” said Meyer.
“It will be a special day for Bismarck as he will become only the 24th South African to play in his 50th Test for the Springboks, and it’s very well deserved. Over the years, he’s always given 100% for the Boks and he will go down in history as one of the best hookers ever to play the game.
“We’re actually in a very privileged position to have two of the best hookers in world rugby in our system, in him and Adriaan. They bring out the best in each other and they will continue to grow as players and leaders in the team.”
Meyer said the Springboks know the Pumas will lift the intensity for Saturday’s match in Mendoza. “We experienced first-hand how passionate their supporters are and how they can lift their team,” he said.
“Having said that, our focus is on continuous improvement and we would like to keep on converting try-scoring opportunities, building on our good on-field discipline and improving our play at the breakdowns.”
The Springbok team to face Argentina in Mendoza is:
15. Willie le Roux (GWK Griquas – 4 caps)
14. Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 10)
13. JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 5)
12. Jean de Villiers (DHL Western Province – 88, captain)
11. Bryan Habana (Toulon, France – 87)
10. Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France – 46)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N. Ireland – 67)
8. Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province – 8)
7. Willem Alberts (The Sharks – 22)
6. Francois Louw (Bath, England – 20)
5. Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro, France – 12)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province – 15)
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks – 46)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs – 25)
1 Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks – 45)
Replacements:
16. Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks – 49)
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France – 41)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota FS Cheetahs – 5)
19. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 27)
20. Siya Kolisi (DHL Western Province – 3)
21. Jano Vermaak (Toulouse, France – 1)
22. Pat Lambie (The Sharks – 24)
23. Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 4)
