THE CLAWS ARE OUT

JUST like his nickname “Krappies” suggests, Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg hopes to claw his way back into a more permanent spot after getting picked on the bench for Saturday’s 5.10pm Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Durban.

Van den Berg is one of the few changes Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has made to his matchday squad for an important clash at Kings Park.

With Aphelele Fassi injured, Erasmus has moved Damian Willemse to fullback and brought back Damian de Allende at inside centre in the only backline change.

In the forwards, Eben Etzebeth was also roped in to start after Lood de Jager got injured in the Boks’ famous 43-10 win against New Zealand.

Most of the changes are on the bench, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels – backup prop against the All Blacks – moving to hooker in place of Marnus van der Merwe, while Boan Venter is innie mix as replacement loosehead.

Van den Berg, who has not played a Test match since the Boks’ 42-24 win against Italy in Pretoria in July, replaces Grant Williams on the wood.

And of gryping sy kans, after carrying tackle bags for five Tests, the Lions halfback wysed: “I try to be like a spunge and soak up all the knowledge, but at the same time I also want to showcase and add my talent to this group. I have missed out on a lot of games, but in this environment it allows you to get the opportunity to grow.

“I believe that all those training sessions, meetings and learnings will make me a much better player.”

BOK TEAM v PUMAS: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacah Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche BENCH: 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Boan Venter, 19 Wilco Louw, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok