Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has allayed some fears that some senior Springboks may not be ready for the upcoming Greatest Rivalry tour, confirming that ahead of the team’s departure for Buenos Aires to face Argentina that players like Eben Etzebeth, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Lood de Jager and Ethan Hooker have all been declared fit to face Los Pumas.
All of them, as well as some other walking wounded members of the Springbok group - including captain Siya Kolisi - will line-up against Argentina next weekend to get game time ahead of the start of the Greatest Rivalry Tour.
The first test comes a fortnight after the Argentina game, underscoring the importance of the fixture in terms of ensuring the entire Bok squad is fit and ready for the challenge that the All Blacks will bring.
Erasmus, at a media briefing, confirmed the only two players who are part of the squad who will not be considered for the Argentina game, as they have niggles, are prop Ox Nche and utility forward Franco Mostert.
ETZEBETH RETURN A RELIEF
With Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman both missing due to long-term injuries, the overall health of the squad is pretty decent considering the challenges they have had over the past few months, both in club and international rugby.
The return of Etzebeth, in particular, is heartening, as the big lock, who is the most capped Springbok player of all time, was on an extended break from contact rugby after struggling with headaches from concussions and missed all three games in the Nations Championship.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu - arguably the most valuable player in World Rugby - was injured during the URC and has kept meticulously to his rehabilitation schedule and will be playing against Argentina to cap the return to play that the Boks will need against their old foes.
“There are obviously long-term injuries to Kwagga and RG but from the guys we thought would return, only Ox and Franco Mostert won’t be available for next week’s game. Apart from that, everyone - Ethan (Hooker), Canan (Moodie) and Sacha, Eben, Lood. Everybody is ready.”
While much of the focus is understandably on the All Blacks' arrival in the country next week, Erasmus quickly batted away many of the questions, preferring to focus on Argentina, which is a key game for his side in the lead-up to the tour.
“I saw the NZ squad was announced and had a brief look at it, but at this stage we're all locked in for Argentina” - more here: https://t.co/OX5yS1YsbO 🔭#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/huSvTQjLHl
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 28, 2026
KEY IS TO BEAT ARGENTINA
“We want to beat Argentina, that’s what we want to get out of the game,” Erasmus said.
“Our biggest hiding we’ve ever had, when I was involved, was against Argentina. You can see the way they have picked their team, it will be 15 guys with real experience and a bunch of youngsters with energy who come from the Sevens Circuit.
“We’ve analysed a lot of the Argentinean games, because we play them next week and those players from the Sevens circuit are always dangerous. We will have to look out for that.”
While Erasmus was asked if it was good to have the senior Boks fit a few weeks before the tour, he said it would have been better not to have the injuries at all, but was satisfied with the return of players, hinting at what the team against Argentina would look like.
“We would have liked to have players not injured and being able to manage their time from the outset, but yes, we always knew we were going to play this game, and in some cases - like Siya - he could have come back earlier but we didn’t want to push him.
“The same with Andre (Esterhuizen), Eben’s concussions, Lood’s injury, Sacha’s timing. It works out well for us against a quality team and we will quickly see who is ready two weeks before we play the All Blacks.
PLAYERS RETURNING
“Most of those guys will be involved in the Argentina game - Ethan Hooker as well and Canan Moodie, who is also coming back from a niggle. We need to give Krappies (Morne van den Berg) some game time, and we can decide between Andre and Ethan who we start there. Ethan isn’t really injured, he hasn’t gotten some game time.
“A guy like Edwill (van der Merwe) will probably get a run, as will (Aphelele) Fassi again, maybe off the bench. So I’m giving more or less the team to you. But we have to have a proper look at guys coming back from injury and guys who didn’t have a proper opportunity and then in the same brief, we will make some guys available for their franchises to play against the All Blacks.”
The Boks will announce the squad going to Argentina on Saturday and release a few players back to their franchises as well.
Fifteen players will stay back in South Africa to train ahead of the All Black series.