PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters) - Versatile loose-forward Uzair Cassiem has been drafted into the number eight position by South Africa as one of three changes to their starting side for the Rugby Championship clash with Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
The Springboks made a 3-0 clean-sweep of their home series with France in June and coach Allister Coetzee has largely stuck with the combinations that served him well then.
Cassiem, who will feature in his second test after making his debut against Wales in November last year, comes in for the more powerful but less mobile Jean-Luc du Preez at the back of the scrum.
Other changes see tight-head prop Coenie Oosthuizen replace Ruan Dreyer while first-choice scrumhalf Ross Cronje is restored in the place of Francois Hougaard, after he overcame shoulder and chest injuries sustained during the Lions' defeat to New Zealand's Crusaders in the Super Rugby final on Aug. 5.
"Uzair is a very versatile loose forward and the added advantage is that he is also an excellent option in the lineout," Coetzee said in a media release from South Africa Rugby on Thursday.
Hougaard and du Preez are joined on the replacements bench by experienced prop Trevor Nyakane, as well as 20-year-old flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who will make his Bok debut should he play on Saturday.
"Coenie has played consistently well this season for the Sharks and he performed well for us whenever he came off the bench in the French series, while Trevor has worked extremely hard and deserves his opportunity.
"Curwin is a young player with huge potential and a bright future ahead of him. He showed in the very tough Super Rugby competition that he is a skilful player and a prolific goal-kicker and he covers both fullback and flyhalf."
Experienced Bok prop Tendai Mtawarira is set to play in a 30th consecutive Rugby Championship match, surpassing the Boks record held by former wing Bryan Habana.
Team:
15-Andries Coetzee, 14-Raymond Rhule, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Jan Serfontein, 11-Courtnall Skosan, 10-Elton Jantjies, 9-Ross Cronje, 8-Uzair Cassiem, 7-Jaco Kriel, 6-Siya Kolisi, 5-Franco Mostert, 4-Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3-Coenie Oosthuizen, 2-Malcolm Marx, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16-Bongi Mbonambi, 17-Steven Kitshoff, 18-Trevor Nyakane, 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20-Jean-Luc du Preez, 21-Francois Hougaard, 22-Curwin Bosch, 23-Damian de Allende.
(Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by Jon Boyle)
