The changes that Rassie Erasmus has made allows the opportunity for players on the fringes to prove their fitness and form one last time. The Springboks come off winning the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2009 and are on a great run of form going into this test match against Argentina in Pretoria on Saturday August 17.

One of the most spoken about changes is the inclusion of Siya Kolisi who comes into the side, but, will not be captaining. The flanker is recoveing from a knee injury he sustained during the Super Rugby campaign, and as a result Rassie Erasmus has named two flanks on the bench in case there is an injury. 

Kolisi not captaining the team this weekend allows him to work his way back into the team and focus more on his game for the time being. 

"We are phasing Siya back into the mix so he definitely will not play 80 minutes after playing a few minutes of Currie Cup rugby. As we all know, we desperately want to take him to the World Cup and we want to make sure he is in form when he gets to the World Cup," Erasmus said about Kolisi. 

Erasmus has hence named an experienced Schalk Brits as the captain of the Springboks for this weekend. 

"So the reason for Brits's captaincy is twofold – firstly that will allow Siya to concentrate on his game, to get his game up to scratch. Secondly, we know he (Siya Kolisi) won't play a full 80 and we might even take him off before halftime if we see we get out of him what we want to get out of him."

"So it wouldn't make sense to make him captain in this specific game. So why Schalk? Well he is by far the most senior guy in the group and also the way we want to do things specifically in this match and the way Schalk has been contributing with the other guys in the group, he is the best guy to do what we want to try and do in this test match."

SPRINGBOK TEAM:

15. Warrick Gelant
14. Sbu Nkosi
13. Jesse Kriel
12. André Esterhuizen
11. Dillyn Leyds
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Marcell Coetzee
7. Rynhardt Elstadt
6. Siya Kolisi
5. Lood de Jager
4. RG Snyman
3. Vincent Koch
2. Schalk Brits
1. Thomas du Toit 

Replacements:

16. Scarra Ntubeni
17. Lizo Gqoboka
18. Wilco Louw
19. Marvin Orie
20. Marco van Staden
21. Kwagga Smith
22. Faf de Klerk
23. Frans Steyn 

@Samludidi - OFM Sport