Springboks target title in Etzebeth's record game

South Africa are aiming to triumph their first Rugby Championship since 2019 connected Saturday erstwhile they look Argentina, who tin besides still triumph nan title, successful Nelspruit.

The Springboks are 5 points clear astatine nan apical of nan array aft failing to clinch nan title past play pursuing a one-point conclusion by Argentina.

That consequence gave nan second-placed Pumas an extracurricular chance of winning their first ever championship, though triumph aliases moreover a prize constituent - achieved by scoring 4 tries aliases finishing wrong 7 points of their opponents - will beryllium capable for South Africa.

However, if Argentina triumph nan lucifer pinch a prize constituent and South Africa neglect to prime up a prize point, Felipe Contepomi's broadside will triumph based connected their 2 victories complete Rassie Erasmus' men.

The Pumas person besides beaten New Zealand and Australia successful this season's competition.

Lock Eben Etzebeth is group to go South Africa's most-capped subordinate aft being named to play his 128th crippled connected Saturday

The 32-year-old will overtake 2007 World Cup victor Victor Matfield, who retired successful 2015.

"If we tin triumph nan title and decorativeness nan title disconnected pinch a triumph it would beryllium a monolithic juncture for nan squad and Eben arsenic an individual," said Erasmus.

The Boks coach rested respective of his cardinal players for nan 29-28 nonaccomplishment past play and makes 9 changes successful full for nan rematch against Argentina.

Six double World Cup winners from 2019 and 2023 return to nan starting XV, including skipper Siya Kolisi and influential backs Cheslin Kolbe and Damian de Allende.

Despite missing a footwear pinch seconds near to triumph nan Rugby Championship, fly-half Manie Libbok gets a starting spot, pinch Handre Pollard dropping to nan bench.

Kolbe, who could besides return extremity kicks if needed, said: "We person played successful a fewer finals, but 1 tin ne'er slope connected what happened successful nan past. This is going to beryllium a large crippled against a wished team.

"Argentina are a phenomenal broadside and person galore players pinch an X-factor, while galore of them travel from a sevens rugby background. Some of nan guys who played past week gave maine advice, truthful I cognize what to expect."

Argentina person made 7 changes to their winning starting XV arsenic Gloucester's Santiago Carreras comes successful astatine full-back and could footwear goals aft fly-half Tomas Albornoz missed 3 pinch 3 attempts past weekend.

Other changes see sevens prima Rodrigo Isgro being named connected nan wing, while flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez is simply a astonishment inclusion up of Pablo Matera, who is connected nan chair contempt a effort successful nan past game.

South Africa XV: Fassi, Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Libbok, Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.

Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, Louw, Smith, Reinach, Pollard, Am.

Argentina XV: Carreras; Isgro, Moroni, Chocobares, Carreras; Albornoz, Garcia; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Sclavi, Rubiolo, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Grondona, Oviedo.

Replacements: Ruiz, Calles, Delgado, Molina, Matera, Bazan Velez, Cinti, Cruz Mallia.

Meanwhile, nan different Rugby Championship crippled connected Saturday sees New Zealand return connected Australia successful Wellington.

Beauden Barrett is named astatine fly-half up of Damian McKenzie, who has started each of Scott Robertson's 8 games successful complaint of nan All Blacks successful nan role.

Barrett will characteristic successful his 131th crippled for New Zealand, pinch 56 of his Test starts being astatine number 10.

"We were ever readying to springiness Beauden a go," said Robertson. "[McKenzie] has started each crippled until now and we've sewage to springiness guys opportunities.

"He's had a awesome play to date. There's areas of his crippled he tin get better, but he tin travel connected and game-manage what we request to do to decorativeness nan match."

Former skipper Sam Cane will go nan 13th All Black to play 100 Tests, successful what will apt beryllium nan 32-year-old's last Test lucifer earlier he returns to Japanese nine Tokyo Sungoliath.

The All Blacks are winless successful 5 Tests successful Wellington - nan astir caller a conclusion by Argentina past month - a grounds that dates backmost to 2018.

Australia caput coach Joe Schmidt has made 2 injury-enforced changes arsenic winger Marika Koroibete and James Slipper driblet out.

Experienced scrum-half Nic White is near retired of nan matchday squad, pinch Waratahs' Jake Gordon coming successful to start.'

New Zealand, who are 3rd successful nan Rugby Championship table, survived a precocious rally to hit Australia 31-28 successful Sydney past play to clasp nan Bledisloe Cup.

New Zealand XV: Jordan; Reece, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Clarke; Barrett, Perenara; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett (capt), Vaa'i, Sititi, Cane, Savea.

Replacements: Aumua, Williams, Tosi, Tuipulotu, Jacobson, Ratima, McKenzie, Havili.

Australia XV: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Paisami, Pietsch; Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Williams, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (capt).

Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Flook.