Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has given an update on Ox Nche, who was ruled out of Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against Argentina at Kings Park.

The loosehead prop, who has featured in every Bok match of the tournament so far, was withdrawn on Friday morning due to a “niggle”.

He has been replaced in the starting XV by Boan Venter, with flank Marco van Staden drafted in as hooker cover and Jan-Hendrik Wessels shifting to the loosehead role on the bench.

“I don’t think it will disrupt the team because Boan has been with us throughout the season,” Stick said. “Every time he’s had an opportunity, he’s grabbed it with both hands. He understands how we operate and has been training with us all week.”

On Nche’s setback, Stick confirmed the injury was not serious but stressed the importance of caution.

“We wanted to give him the best chance to recover from a niggle he picked up against New Zealand. He’s not 100%, so we don’t want to push things, so we decided to pull him. Hopefully by next week he’ll have fully recovered, but he’s not far from being ready.”

The Springboks face Argentina again at Twickenham on 4 October.

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SPRINGBOKS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.

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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images