Nyakane doubts Cosatu's claims

Durban - Politics and performance have worked together to dampen South African rugby spirits this week.

However, Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane has lent his voice to the unrest caused by allegations that five black players approached Cosatu with concerns at the lack of transformation within the side.

Nyakane will start just his second Test match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday when he earns his 15^th cap - and the loosehead is not entertaining the idea that any of his team-mates approached the trade union.

“Those things are out there. As a player ... we talk to each other and try to understand things,” he said on Wednesday.

“To us it’s nothing. I don’t know of anyone that could have done something like that.”

The Bulls forward will instead be focusing on making the most of his opportunity this weekend as Beast Mtawarira sits out.

“In weeks like this ... in Test weeks ... I try to keep my head focused on the game so that I can know my job and do my job when I get out there,” he said.

“Whatever happens with all of these Cosatu things, I put it aside and do what I need to do for the weekend.

“Being back in the starting line-up is a privilege and an honour. It’s what we work hard for week in and week out.”

Saturday's match kicks off at 21:40.

Teams:

Argentina:

15-Joaquin Tuculet, 14-Santiago Cordero, 13-Matias Moroni, 12-Juan Martin Hernandez, 11-Juan Imhoff, 10-Nicolas Sanchez, 9-Martin Landajo; 8-Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7-Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6-Tomas Lezana, 5-Tomas Lavanini, 4-Benjamin Macome, 3-Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2-Agustin Creevy (captain), 1-Marcos Ayerza

Substitutes: 16-Julian Montoya, 17-Lucas Noguera, 18-Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19-Matias Alemanno, 20-Pablo Matera, 21-Tomas Cubelli, 22-Juan Pablo Socino, 23-Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino

Springboks

15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20, Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Jan Serfontein

Additional tour squad members:

Bismarck du Plessis, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi, Rudy Paige, Elton Jantjies