The Springboks have lost No.8 Pierre Spies ahead of their inaugural Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Cape Town.
Spies, who has 50 South African Test caps, has been ruled out with a finger surgery.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer is yet to name a replacement but said he will call on a back rower from his existing squad.
Argentina has selected injury-plagued fly half Juan Martin Hernandez for the clash against the Springboks.
The 30-year-old Hernandez will make his first Test appearance in three years.
He has suffered a string of injuries since helping his country finish third at the 2007 World Cup. His last Test was against England in June 2009.
The team will be captained by number eight Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe who takes over from Felipe Contepomi after the centre made himself unavailable for this tournament.
Pumas coach Santiago Phelan said the Springboks will be formidable opponents and has urged his side to control the ball and find some space to put pressure on South Africa on its home turf.
"We are aware of the Springboks' strengths and we need to be patient and find the moment in the game to strike," Phelan said.
"We have to find the spaces in order to generate momentum. It will be about space as they are physically very strong when you attack them one on one."
Winger Gonzalo Camacho said Argentina's inclusion in the southern hemisphere's premier rugby competition for the first time alongside South Africa, New Zealand and Australia was an important step for rugby in his country.
"We have been feeling the pressure heading into a huge game, the Test will be huge," Camacho said.
"We have to prove ourselves without losing the essence of our game."
The Pumas starting team at Newlands in Cape Town includes 14 players who play in Europe, with only flanker Julio Farias Cabello playing in Argentina. Twelve of the team took part in last year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Nicolas Vergallo, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (c), Alvaro Galindo, Julio Farias Cabello, Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza, Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Rodrigo Roncero. Reserves: Bruno Postiglioni, Marcos Ayerza, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Thomas Leonardi, Leonardo Senatore, Martin Landajo, Martin Rodriguez.
South African team still to be named.
Reuters
Tags: sport, rugby-union, south-africa, australia, argentina First posted August 15, 2012 10:35:37
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