Rassie Erasmus has named a 43-man Springbok squad to gather in Johannesburg this Sunday for a Test against Argentina on 8 August and the subsequent Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand. The squad features 10 returning players from injury, including captain Siya Kolisi and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The road to the All Blacks clash now runs through Buenos Aires. Coach Rassie Erasmus is treating the upcoming match against the Pumas as a critical fitness and selection filter, splitting his 43-man group into two distinct squads: one to travel to Argentina and one to remain in Johannesburg for specialized New Zealand preparations.
The Return of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
The most significant boost to the Bok backline is the return of star flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. His recovery has outpaced initial medical projections following a syndesmosis injury sustained on 30 May 2026 during a URC quarterfinal against Cardiff. While doctors originally estimated a three-month timeline for his return, the playmaker is back in the mix in under two months.
Erasmus has created a luxurious
flyhalf situation by including four specialists in the group: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Handré Pollard, and recent new cap Vusi Moyo. Utility back Quan Horn provides further cover. This depth allows the Boks to vary their tactical approach across the diverse climates of the series, ranging from the dry Highveld and a potentially wet Cape Town to a sweltering Baltimore summer.
Squad Depth and the Argentina Litmus Test
For several stalwarts, the Argentina game is less of a “friendly” and more of a mandatory audition. Ten players are returning from injury, including locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, looseforward Siya Kolisi, and utility forward Franco Mostert. Others returning include André Esterhuizen, Morné van den Berg, Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie, and Handré Pollard.
Former Springboks boss Nick Mallett suggests that for veterans like Etzebeth, who has dealt with a troubled concussion record and a 12-week suspension following a red card against Wales in November, the stakes are high. Mallett noted that reputation only lasts so long and performance is now the only currency that matters for those attempting to break back into the Test side.
The Embrose Papier Snub
Not everyone made the cut for the upcoming tour. Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier has been released back to his franchise, despite a first cap since 2018 during the Nations Championship. Erasmus opted to retain Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, and the returning Morne van den Berg, while Herschel Jantjies remains in the fold.
The decision hinges on what Erasmus calls wiele
(wheels/pace). While Mallett acknowledges that Papier possesses out-and-out speed, he argues that Jantjies offers a different, more valuable kind of pace: the speed to the breakdown and the ability to clear the ball rapidly to improve the rhythm of the backline.
“I still think possibly they feel that Embrose Papier is an individually very talented rugby player, but collectively, the way he plays with the rest of his team, he is a bit off the pace with regard to the other scrum-halves.”
Nick Mallett, former Springboks boss
Franchise Releases and All Black Midweeks
In a strategic move, five players have been released to their URC clubs to face the All Blacks in midweek fixtures. This provides those players an opportunity to compete against Dave Rennie’s side, though they are effectively outside the immediate plans for the main series.
| Player | Franchise | Date of All Blacks Clash |
|---|---|---|
| Ntuthuko Mchunu, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter | Stormers | 7 August |
| Jaco Williams | Sharks | 11 August |
| Embrose Papier | Bulls | 15 August |
The only player from the opening Nations Championship squad who was omitted entirely from the two groups is lock Ruben van Heerden. Having recently made the move from the Stormers to the French club Montpellier, van Heerden remains on standby.
The Buenos Aires Challenge
Erasmus is not underestimating the Pumas, citing their recent victory over the Springboks in Argentina in 2024. With Argentina having recently defeated Wales and played competitive Tests against England and Scotland, the Boks view this as a high-quality encounter rather than a mere warm-up.
/file/attachments/orphans/TL_2462807_541797.jpg "Photo: Daily Maverick")
The strategy is clear: use the Argentina game to verify that returning players can handle a hard training week
and still perform on Saturday. For the 10 returning veterans and the returning Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the 8 August Test is the final hurdle to prove they are physically and tactically ready for the intensity of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
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