BACK WITH A BONG?

BONGI Mbonambi will be looking to stake his claim in the Springboks’ final two Rugby Championship Test matches after being named in their 33-man squad to face Argentina.

South Africa tackle the Pumas next Saturday at Kings Park before travelling to London for a clash at Twickenham on 4 October.

Mbonambi missed out on the Boks’ tour of New Zealand due to family reasons.

In the back-to-back World Cup-winning hooker’s absence, the Bokke struggled at lineout time in their 24-17 Eden Park loss to the All Blacks, but rukked themselves reg as Malcolm Marx and backup Marnus van der Merwe hit their targets in the record-breaking 43-10 win in Wellington at the weekend.

Mbonambi has also not been in hot form this season, with his impact off the bench and lineout throws getting questioned in swak performances against Italy in July and the 38-22 loss to Australia at Ellis Park.

Rookies Van der Merwe and Jan-Hendrik Wessels put their hands up on the Kiwi tour, leaving Mbonambi with a point to prove when the Boks gather for a training camp in Durban on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, has kept the faith with the group that handed the All Blacks their biggest defeat last week.

However, Lood de Jager, Aphelele Fassi and Jean-Luc du Preez were ruled out due to injuries.

Despite the injury setbacks, Eramus is backing his players to klap the Pumas and retain the Rugby Championship title.

Erasmus wysed: “We are blessed with talent in South Africa, we have capable guys to fill their boots...

“We are also fortunate to have so many versatile players who can play a few different positions, and they are equally adept in each of them, regardless of what position they play.”

Of the challenge the Argentinians will bring in Durban and London, he added: “They have quality forwards and backs, and they play with guts and passion, so we know it will take two great performances to beat them and hopefully retain the Rugby Championship title.”

Erasmus will also be looking to add three more players to his 33-man squad following medical assessments.

BOK SQUAD: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams