With the Greatest Rivalry series looming, Erasmus has used the Argentina Test as a calculated tune-up rather than a routine selection. The piece identifies five threads worth following. Most prominent is Feinberg-Mngomezulu's return from ankle surgery — this is his only warm-up before the All Blacks arrive, and the piece frames the Argentina outing as essential preparation for a player tipped for genuine greatness. Similarly, Etzebeth and De Jager are back after long injury absences, with the second-row depth chart still unsettled ahead of New Zealand; De Jager faces stiff competition from Nortje, but a big game could force Erasmus's hand.
The analysis also digs into Wilco Louw's omission — pointing to Nick Mallett's theory that World Rugby's scrum-depowering has eroded Louw's impact, and suggesting Erasmus may be leaning toward Du Toit and Porthen for the All Blacks on mobility grounds. Jantjies and Horn's exclusion from the 26-man squad is read as a near-certain signal they're outside the All Blacks frame for now. And in the back-row, while the Kolisi–PSdT–Jasper Wiese axis remains intact, the inclusion of Hanekom and Elrigh Louw hints at Erasmus already thinking about the post-2027 transition. Worth reading for the Louw omission breakdown and the second-row pecking-order analysis.