Springbok Watch: Key Players For Rugby Championship v Argentina

Quintin van Jaarsveld identifies the Springbok players who’ll be in the spotlight in the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Gqeberha on Saturday.

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Nicolaas van Rensburg, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Dan du Preez, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Damian Willemse

Malcolm Marx

It’s been a minute since Marx has worn the Green and Gold No.2 jersey, his last Test start coming back in South Africa’s 2019 World Cup opener against the All Blacks. Since then, the Kubota Spears star has made 10 appearances off the bench and while there’s great pride among the members of the Bomb Squad, no player wants to ride the pine.

The world’s best hooker during his time at the Lions, this starting opportunity comes at a great time for the 27-year-old to reignite his Springbok career, which has plateaued in recent years. A powerhouse with ball in hand with loose forward-like ball-poaching skills, his class is undeniable – he just needs a chance to remind the world, and this is it.

Thomas du Toit

A wider squad member who was a late call-up to the World Cup squad after Trevor Nyakane’s tournament-ending injury against the All Blacks, Du Toit is set for only his third Test start and first at tighthead. It’s a rare opportunity that brings with it as much excitement as it does pressure as the human tank needs to prove his worth to strengthen or at the very least retain his place in the national set-up.

Tipping the scales at 138kg, the heaviest Springbok in history (along with former lock Rudi “Vleis” Visagie) is a powerful ball-carrier with remarkable mobility and a great gas tank. However, that he and Nyakane have been selected in their secondary positions are clear indicators that Jacques Nienaber and company are primarily focused on how they fare at scrum time, which will add an extra layer of intrigue to the set-piece battle.

Marvin Orie

Orie’s even further down the second-row pecking order than Du Toit is in the front-row ranks. Having made five Test appearances off the bench, this marks the Stormers lock’s first start. It’s an opportunity afforded through injury to the likes of RG Snyman, Rynhardt Elstadt and Jean-Luc du Preez and one Orie simply has to maximize.

It’s ironic that the chance comes at No.4 – a role reserved for hulking enforcers – considering his lack of physicality, compared to other South African locks, has been the main reason why he hasn’t played more Test rugby. He’s a more streamlined and athletic No.5 lock, but given Lood de Jager’s experience as the Springboks’ lineout general, it’s understandable why Orie’s starting at four.

His high work rate and good hands will help fuel and speed up momentum, while he’s a safe pair of hands at lineout time, but the focus will be on how he stands up physically at the gain line. Fail to pack a punch against the Pumas and it might be his last time in the Test arena.

Lood de Jager

Orie’s lock partner will take centre as he brings up his Test half-ton. Since making his debut off the bench against Wales in Durban in June 2014, De Jager’s been an excellent servant of Springbok rugby and is only getting better.

His output has never been higher and rivals that of a loose forward, while he runs the lineout like clockwork and directs the driving mauls with authority. It’ll be a big occasion for the big man and one that’s thoroughly deserved, especially after his run of serious injuries in recent years.

Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg

Janse van Rensburg is set to join Jasper Wiese as a 2021 Springbok debutant plying his trade abroad. The Montpellier skyscraper’s just had to bide his time longer than the Leicester loose forward since the pair joined the camp for the first time this season, but his moment has now arrived.

He’s likely to get a decent amount of game time off the bench and might well make a major impact with his physicality and hyperdrive as realising his Springbok dream will be akin to pouring gasoline on a fire. It’s been seven years since he played for the South African Under-20s and five since he headed to France, so for many Springbok supporters this will be their introduction to the Affies product and you know what they say about first impressions.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.