Argentina vs South Africa team news 2026
Argentina vs South Africa team news 2026 confirms what many feared: Los Pumas will face the world’s best team on August 8 at Estadio José Amalfitani without some of their most important players. Felipe Contepomi named a 34-man squad for the August-September window that includes 10 uncapped players and is missing significant first-choice names through injury, club commitments and disciplinary investigation.
South Africa, meanwhile, arrive with Rassie Erasmus’ full complement available — including the return of Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The contrast in squad strength could not be more stark.
Pablo Matera Captains Argentina — Montoya Out
The most significant selection news is the absence of Julián Montoya, Argentina’s long-serving captain, who has returned to his club for European preseason. Pablo Matera takes the armband in his place — an experienced choice and one of Argentina’s most respected leaders, but a change that disrupts the established leadership structure at a difficult moment.
Contepomi has framed the August window as an opportunity rather than a crisis: “The health — physical and mental — is crucial for us, and that is why several players will be rested, which will allow us to expand our base and work with new players. Our objective is always to prepare players to be successful in Los Pumas.”
It is a measured response to a difficult situation. Whether it translates into performance against the Springboks will be the real test.
Argentina’s Full Absence List
Injuries — ongoing:
Juan Cruz Mallía (ligaments), Thomas Gallo (adductor, 4-5 months), Pedro Rubiolo (cruciate ligaments), Joel Sclavi (injury), Juan Martín González (foot fracture), Benjamín Elizalde (knee ligaments)
Unavailable — club preseason:
Julián Montoya, Marcos Kremer, Joaquín Oviedo, Justo Piccardo, Bautista Delguy, Tomás Albornoz, Matías Alemanno, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Franco Molina, Gonzalo García, Mateo Carreras
That is twelve players unavailable through injury or club commitments — several of whom started in the July window. Oviedo, Argentina’s standout performer against Wales, is not available. Albornoz, who faces a potential World Rugby disciplinary sanction following the England match, is also absent.
10 Uncapped Players Named
The 34-man squad includes ten players with no international caps: Facundo Cardozo, Franco Carrera, Agustín Fraga, Francisco Moreno, Benjamín Ordiz, Leonel Oviedo, Juan Penoucos, Juan Martín Scelzo, Mateo Soler and Tobías Wade. Two will be named as development players.
Contepomi’s message is clear — this window is partly about building the next generation. The problem is that the first match is against the best team in the world.
Possible Argentina XV vs South Africa
15 Santiago Carreras 14 Rodrigo Isgró 13 Lucio Cinti 12 Matías Moroni 11 Ignacio Mendy 10 Gerónimo Prisciantelli 9 Simón Benítez Cruz 8 Joaquín Moro 7 Benjamín Grondona 6 Pablo Matera (c) 5 Guido Petti 4 Efraín Elías 3 Tomás Rapetti 2 Ignacio Ruiz 1 Mayco Vivas
Prisciantelli at 10 is the selection that will generate most debate. With Albornoz unavailable, Contepomi turns to a player who carries a different profile — and faces the significant challenge of controlling a match against South Africa’s defensive line speed from the first minute.
Possible South Africa XV
15 Quan Horn 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Canan Moodie 12 André Esterhuizen 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Morne van den Berg 8 Cam Hanekom 7 Ben-Jason Dixon 6 Siya Kolisi (c) 5 Lood de Jager 4 Eben Etzebeth 3 Thomas du Toit 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 1 Boan Venter
Etzebeth and De Jager returning to the engine room is the headline for Springboks supporters. Feinberg-Mngomezulu at 10 gives South Africa an attacking dimension that goes beyond their traditional territorial game. Kolisi leading a full-strength squad against a depleted opposition — the motivation of the returning players fighting for World Cup spots adds another layer.
The Context
The match has been declared an event of sporting interest by the Buenos Aires City Sports Secretariat. It will be broadcast on Disney+ in Argentina. For a packed Amalfitani on a Saturday afternoon, the atmosphere will be everything Los Pumas need to compensate for the squad disadvantage.
“We are very happy to say goodbye at Vélez, Jujuy and Mendoza,” said Contepomi — three home venues that close Argentina’s domestic window before the European tour in November.
For the full Nations Championship schedule and Argentina’s remaining fixtures, see our Nations Championship 2026 schedule. For the tactical breakdown of what this match requires from both sides, read our Argentina vs South Africa 2026 match preview.
According to World Rugby, the Nations Championship represents the most significant restructure of the international calendar in over a decade.
Confirmed Starting XVs — August 8, Estadio José Amalfitani
Argentina:
1 Boris Wenger 2 Ignacio Ruiz 3 Francisco Moreno 4 Guido Petti 5 Tomás Lavanini 6 Pablo Matera (c) 7 Benjamín Grondona 8 Joaquín Moro 9 Simón Benítez Cruz 10 Santiago Carreras 11 Ignacio Mendy 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo 13 Lucio Cinti 14 Rodrigo Isgró 15 Gerónimo Prisciantelli
Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Tomás Rapetti, Efraín Elías, Juan Penoucos, Juan Martín Scelzo, Agustín Moyano, Matías Moroni
South Africa:
1 Ox Nche 2 Malcolm Marx 3 Thomas du Toit 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Ruan Nortje 6 Siya Kolisi (c) 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 8 Jasper Wiese 9 Cobus Reinach 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 11 Ethan Hooker 12 Damian de Allende 13 Canan Moodie 14 Cheslin Kolbe 15 Damian Willemse
Key selection notes: Matera captains in place of Montoya (club preseason). Carreras starts at 10 — pushed into the fly-half role with Albornoz suspended. Prisciantelli takes the 15 shirt. Lavanini returns to partner Petti in the second row. Etzebeth and Nortje anchor the Springboks lock combination as expected.
