Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Eben Etzebeth, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Lood de Jager, Ethan Hooker, Siya Kolisi, Canan Moodie and André Esterhuizen are all fit and available for next weekend's match against Argentina in Buenos Aires — the final preparation fixture before the Greatest Rivalry Tour against New Zealand begins a fortnight later.
The only two squad members ruled out of the Argentina game are prop Ox Nche and Franco Mostert, both carrying niggles. Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman remain sidelined with longer-term injuries.
Etzebeth's return is particularly significant. The most capped Springbok of all time missed all three Nations Championship matches after struggling with concussion-related headaches and was placed on an extended break from contact rugby. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who picked up his injury during the URC, has completed his rehabilitation programme and will also take the field against the Pumas.
Erasmus was direct about the purpose of the fixture. "We want to beat Argentina, that's what we want to get out of the game," he said, adding that Argentina's mix of experienced campaigners and Sevens-circuit players makes them a genuine threat. "Those players from the Sevens circuit are always dangerous. We will have to look out for that."
On the managed return of senior players, Erasmus acknowledged the squad could have been brought back earlier in some cases — Kolisi among them — but said caution was deliberate. "We always knew we were going to play this game, and in some cases — like Siya — he could have come back earlier but we didn't want to push him. It works out well for us against a quality team and we will quickly see who is ready two weeks before we play the All Blacks."
Erasmus largely deflected questions about the All Blacks' squad announcement, saying the group's focus remains firmly on Argentina.