Boks pick Hougaard to replace injured Cronje

An ankle injury rules out scrum-half Ross Cronje and experienced Francois Hougaard comes off the bench to replace him in the starting line-up.

Rudy Paige has been promoted to the replacements’ bench as scrum-half cover with the Springboks seeking a fifth consecutive victory this season.

“Francois has played a lot of Test rugby, his work ethic is second to none and he has been working hard until now since joining the squad,” Coetzee told reporters in Buenos Aires.

“Rudy made a good impact in the third Test against France and I expect the same from him this weekend.”

Before a 37-12 Championship victory over Los Pumas in Port Elizabeth last Saturday, resurgent South Africa completed a 3-0 Test series whitewash over France during June.

Coach Allister Coetzee had a horror debut season last year, losing a calendar-year record eight Tests out of 12, including a first to European rugby lightweights Italy.

The 54-year-old former provincial scrum-half and coach of Super Rugby outfit Western Stormers said he was thrilled by the healthy competition for places.

“The players outside of the match 23 are all knocking on the door and that is a great position to be in.”

South Africa and Argentina have met twice in northwestern city Salta with the Springboks winning 33-31 three years ago and Argentina turning the tables with a 26-24 victory last season.

The other Rugby Championship teams are world champions New Zealand and Australia, who meet Saturday in Dunedin.

Team (15-1)

Andries Coetzee; Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies, Francois Hougaard; Uzair Cassiem, Jaco Kriel, Siya Kolisi; Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth (capt); Coenie Oosthuizen, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Rudy Paige, Curwin Bosch, Damian de Allende

Coach: Allister Coetzee (RSA)