Late Ox Nche setback forces Springboks to name Marco van Staden as hooker cover on the bench

The Springboks have suffered a setback on the eve of their crucial Rugby Championship encounter with Argentina in Durban, with in-form loosehead prop Ox Nche withdrawing because of an injury niggle.

While Boan Venter is a capable replacement, Sharks talisman Nche would have revelled in performing on his home ground of Kings Park.

Venter, the son of Griquas great De Waal Venter, made his debut for the Boks earlier this year in the Test against Georgia. He will earn his fifth cap on Saturday after last featuring in the Boks’ loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park earlier this month.

Venter also played off the bench in the Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, and the return clash against the Australians in Cape Town. Having begun his career at the Cheetahs, Venter has since established himself in Europe, playing 95 times for Edinburgh since joining the Scottish club in 2021.

With his promotion from the bench to the starting line-up — where he joins Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit in the front row — loose forward Marco van Staden has been drafted onto the bench. He will provide hooker cover, while Jan-Hendrik Wessels serves as the back-up prop.

Like Wessels, who can switch equally efficiently between prop and hooker, Van Staden can move comfortably between flank and hooker, as he proved at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He had game time in the No 2 jersey during the Boks’ pool match against Romania.

The experienced Blue Bull will earn his 31st cap on Saturday.

Updated Springbok team to play Argentina

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.

Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.