Argentine Rugby Star Marco Kremer to Miss Decisive Clash Against South Africa

Influential Argentina loose forward Marco Kremer will miss the crucial Rugby Championship match against South Africa due to a knee injury. His absence is a significant blow as Argentina needs a bonus point victory to claim the championship. Other roster changes include the exclusion of Ignacio Mendy, Matias Orlando, and Justo Piccardo.

Influential Argentina loose forward Marco Kremer will miss his country's decisive Rugby Championship clash against South Africa this weekend after suffering a knee injury in last Saturday's home win over the Springboks, the Argentine Rugby Union said on Monday.

Kremer hobbled off midway through the second half of Argentina's 29-28 home victory over the World Cup winners in Santiago del Estero on Saturday and was left out of the 28-man squad for South Africa, where the two countries meet again in Nelspruit on Saturday. Kremer's absence will be a significant blow to the Pumas' hopes of another upset as they need a bonus point victory at the Mbombela Stadium to clinch the Rugby Championship, currently led by South Africa.

The Springboks hold a five-point lead over Argentina in the standings heading into the final round of this year's southern hemisphere championship. Kremer, who has 72 caps, is the only omission among the forwards from the squad for last week's test. The backs also see changes, with Ignacio Mendy, Matias Orlando, and Justo Piccardo cut as the squad size is trimmed to 28.

(With inputs from agencies.)