Kick-off is at 9pm on Saturday at the Estadio José Amalfitani. South Africa have named their team to face Argentina and it carries some weight: Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu all feature. The three were absent from the last Nations Championship and had not worn the green and gold in an official test since November against Wales.
Kolisi back in an official test nine months on
His is the most anticipated return. The 35-year-old South Africa captain did play in June, but in an exhibition match against the Barbarians that did not count as a cap. A hamstring problem then kept him out.
The back-rower, now with the Sharks in Durban after his spell at Racing 92, has 103 caps and 14 tries for the Springboks. Saturday will be his first official test of the season, a little over a year out from the World Cup.
Etzebeth, the counter that keeps ticking
Alongside him, Eben Etzebeth keeps piling them up. The 34-year-old lock is on 142 caps and 9 tries in a South Africa shirt. His presence changes the nature of a pack: for ten years, South Africa have built their physical dominance around him.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the squad’s attacking heavyweight
The third return may be the most significant for the way the team plays. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is only 24 and has 19 caps, but he has already scored 173 points in green and gold, a little over nine points a match.
| Player | Age | Caps | Tries | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eben Etzebeth | 34 | 142 | 9 | 45 |
| Siya Kolisi | 35 | 103 | 14 | 70 |
| Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | 24 | 19 | 9 | 173 |
That return makes him the man who can swing a tight match on his own with the boot. And there have been plenty of tight matches in Argentina.
In Argentina, the Boks win by a whisker
South Africa have won nine of the last ten meetings between the two nations. The balance of power looks overwhelming. It is far less so when the match is played in Argentina.
| Date | Fixture | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4 October 2025 | Argentina v South Africa | 27-29 |
| 27 September 2025 | South Africa v Argentina | 67-30 |
| 28 September 2024 | South Africa v Argentina | 48-7 |
| 21 September 2024 | Argentina v South Africa | 29-28 |
| 5 August 2023 | Argentina v South Africa | 13-24 |
At home, the Pumas beat the Springboks in September 2024 and pushed them to within two points in October 2025. In Durban or Pretoria, the same sides finished 67-30 and 48-7. The venue matters, and it matters a lot.
A run-out before New Zealand
This test comes two weeks before the series South Africa will play against New Zealand. Picking Kolisi, Etzebeth and Feinberg-Mngomezulu in Buenos Aires is no accident: the South Africa staff want their senior men back up to international speed before the real appointment of the summer, and they have chosen the most uncomfortable trip on their calendar to do it.
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