Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will make his return to Test rugby in Buenos Aires on Saturday, playing his first match since undergoing ankle surgery in late May. The 24-year-old fly-half has been named to start against Argentina, with Handre Pollard on the bench, as the Springboks prepare for their one-off fixture ahead of the four-Test series against New Zealand later this month.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's absence during the opening rounds of the Nations Championship forced the world champions to rely on Pollard and Manie Libbok at fly-half. Whilst both performed capably, the Stormers playmaker offers a different dimension to the Springbok attack, and his return provides Rassie Erasmus with additional options as the All Blacks series approaches on 22 August.
Lock crisis begins to ease
The Buenos Aires Test also marks the return of Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, both of whom have featured just once since last year's Autumn Nations Series. The pair are widely considered among the Springboks' strongest second-row combinations, and their availability eases what has been a difficult period for Erasmus in the engine room.
Deon Davids and Erasmus have emphasised the challenge of facing Argentina in Buenos Aires, citing the 28–29 defeat in Santiago del Estero in 2024 and the 19–32 loss in Mendoza in 2018 as evidence of the difficulty. The Springboks have beaten every Rugby Championship and Six Nations team away from home over the past two years, with the exception of Argentina.
Whilst Erasmus has attempted to steer focus away from the Greatest Rivalry Tests, the performance in Buenos Aires will inevitably shape both the narrative and selections ahead of the clashes against New Zealand. The one-off fixture offers returning players limited time to find form, but it represents the only opportunity for match sharpness before the All Blacks arrive.
For Feinberg-Mngomezulu in particular, the stakes are high. The fly-half has already demonstrated during his brief international career that he possesses the all-round game to become one of the sport's elite playmakers. The All Blacks series will test that potential, making Saturday's outing in Buenos Aires vital preparation for what lies ahead.