Springboks rest 10 players from last week’s starting line-up in Rugby Championship opener

South Africa have rested ten players from the team that started in a series-winning victory over the British and Irish Lions last weekend for their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina this Sunday.

Only captain Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth and scrum-half Cobus Reinach have been retained.

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber had hinted when naming a 42-man squad for the matches on successive Saturdays against the Pumas that he would rest as many of those who took part in the 2-1 series triumph over the Lions.

Nienaber has reverted to a 6-2 forwards-backs split on the bench with two starters, full-back Damian Willemse and inside centre Francois Steyn, able to cover multiple backline positions.

The Springboks will face Argentina at 3.05am Sunday.