Etzebeth set to equal record for most capped Springbok
Lock Eben Etzebeth will join Victor Matfield as the most capped Springbok if he plays off the bench on Saturday after being named in the matchday 23 to face Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
Retired lock Matfield made 127 appearances for South Africa and fellow second row forward Etzebeth is set to equal that total in Santiago del Estero.
Assuming he plays in the fifth-round match, Etzebeth would then be poised to become the most capped Springbok when the teams meet again on September 28 in South Africa.
World champions South Africa need three points from the two Tests against Argentina to win the southern hemisphere championship for only the second time in 12 attempts.
Coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to the team that started in a 18-12 victory over New Zealand in Cape Town two weeks ago.
The five survivors are centre Jesse Kriel, fly-half Handre Pollard, prop Ox Nche, lock Ruan Nortje and No. 8 Jasper Wiese.
Multiple changes were inevitable after the Springboks left seven of the Cape Town starters at home to rest and scrum-half Grant Williams later withdrew with an arm injury.
Etzebeth drops to the bench and regular captain Siya Kolisi has not been included despite travelling to South America. His role as skipper is taken by lock Salmaan Moerat.
Kolisi was due to have surgery on a fractured nose after the Cape Town Test, but an SA Rugby official told AFP the procedure had been delayed without giving further details.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels is the replacement hooker despite being only the third choice in that position for Pretoria franchise the Bulls. He can also operate as a loosehead prop.
"It would be amazing to wrap up the Rugby Championship title this weekend, but it won't be easy," said Erasmus.
"We have a bigger picture in mind as well, which is to build squad depth with an eye on the 2027 World Cup.
"The only way we can do that is to expose the younger players to tough opposition under difficult circumstances and, so far, all of them have risen to that challenge.
"We are excited about this squad and to see what the younger players can do in pretty tough playing conditions with such a passionate support base in Argentina."
Argentina, who crushed Australia 67-27 in Santa Fe in the last round to lie second in the standings, eight points behind South Africa, will name their team on Thursday.
Team (15-1)
Aphelele Fassi; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi; Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden; Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (capt); Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Manie Libbok
Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)
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