Bongi Mbonambi to lead South Africa against Argentina

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has appointed Bongi Mbonambi as the captain for the Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Argentina to be played in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Nienaber has made 13 changes to the starting line up from the side that defeated Argentina in the last round of the Rugby Championship game at Ellis Park.

With Siya Kolisi still recovering from an injury and Duane Vermeulen and Eben Etzebeth not part of the travelling squad, Mbonambi will become the Springboks’ 65th Test captain and will be part of the front row that also has Thomas du Toit and Trevor Nykane.

Marvin Orie will be forming a second row partnership with Jean Kleyn while flankers Deon Fourie and Franco Mostert will be part of the back row alongside number eight Jasper Wiese.

Flyhalf Manie Libbok will make his third start this year forming half back partnership with Cobus Reinach with Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie starting at left and right wings respectively.

André Esterhuizen will get another start at inside centre with Canan Moodie starting at outside while Damian Willemse is slotted at fullback.

“This is going to be a massive physical battle, and there will be a lot of pressure on the players mentally and physically, which is exactly the type of situation we would like to see them in as we enter our World Cup warm-up games,” said Nienaber.

“There’s a fair bit of experience within this squad, and apart from Gerhard, most of the players have been in the selection mix in the last two seasons.

“There is not a player in our enlarged squad who is fully confident that he will be in the World Cup squad, so the competition for places is intense.

"Each one of the players is desperate for an opportunity to play, and it’s evident in the way they’ve been training and in the hard work they’ve been doing off the field, so we’re excited to see what they bring this weekend.”

South Africa team: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (c), 1 Trevor Nyakane

Reserves: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jesse Kriel, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse