South Africa ring the changes for Rugby Championship opener against Argentina

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has made 10 changes to the starting line up for the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina to be played at Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Skipper Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Japer Wiese and Cobus Reinach are the only players to be retained in the starting XV from the third Test against British and Irish Lions.

Damian Willemse replaces Willie le Roux at fullback while Sbu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi are the chosen wings with Jesse Kriel and Frans Steyn starting at midfield.

Elton Jantjies has been preferred at fly-half and will form halfback partnership with Reinach. Ox Nché has overcome a neck injury to be part of the front row that also has Joseph Dweba, who will make his debut and Wilco Louw with Etzebeth and de Jager retained at second row.

The final change sees Kwagga Smith starting at openside joining Kolisi and Wiese at back row.

“Argentina are very physical, so we need to stand up to that challenge in every contest,” said Nienaber.

“Their forward pack is renowned for making their presence felt, so our set pieces need to be spot-on and it will be important to dominate at the contact points.

“All-in-all we need to deliver an accurate performance all around and it is vital that we capitalise on the opportunities we have to score points.”

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nché

Reserves: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Dan du Preez, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Morné Steyn