Overview
- Erasmus named the match 23 on Tuesday, recalling captain Siya Kolisi plus Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morné van den Berg to start the one-off Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
- The starting XV shows 13 changes from the Wales win, leaving only Aphelele Fassi and Cobus Reinach as holdovers to spread game time across veterans and younger players.
- Assistant coach Deon Davids said the priority for the recalled players is to rebuild match fitness by getting heavy minutes in a genuine Test environment rather than treating the fixture as a mere warm-up.
- Coaches warned Argentina will be a physical, passionate opponent at Estadio José Amalfitani, so the match is both a fitness test and a tactical rehearsal for the four-Test All Blacks series starting August 22.
- New Zealand’s tour plans have already been hit by injury with hooker George Bell sidelined for up to six weeks and Bradley Slater called up, underscoring selection and fitness pressure on both sides ahead of the rivalry series.