Rob Simmons is one of several casualties from the Wallabies loss © Getty Images

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Wallabies X-factor duo Kurtley Beale and Scott Higginbotham, both kept frustratingly quiet in the Rugby Championship, are poised for starting returns against Argentina next weekend. Injuries to inside centre Matt Toomua (head knock) and No.8 Ben McCalman (shoulder) look set to give Beale and Higginbotham their chances to atone for ineffective efforts off the bench in their last two Tests.

Toomua, replaced with 26 minutes left in the 28-10 loss to South Africa in Cape Town and tested for concussion, will be assessed heading into the clash in Mendoza on Sunday morning (AEST). McCalman, an energetic tackler and ball-carrier, did not travel to Argentina after being ruled out following his injury around the same time as Toomua's in an up-tempo Test full of big collisions.

With Wycliff Palu (concussion) resting on the sidelines, Higginbotham is almost certain to be handed the No.8 jersey he's coveted but hasn't worn since 2011.

Queensland back-rower Jake Schatz has been called into the revised 29-man squad and will compete with flanker Matt Hodgson for a spot in the match-day team. On the positive front, the hooker's curse didn't strike - sixth-stringer Saia Fainga'a produced an inspired 70-minute display.

Cult figure Will Skelton is also flying to Argentina as second-row back-up with lineout general Rob Simmons also copping a head knock that led to him being replaced by James Horwill at half-time.

Horwill was busy but, like all of the bench, was guilty of a costly late error - falling off a tackle on Patrick Lambie as the reserve five-eighth darted over for the match-winning try. Beale, Higginbotham, Ben Alexander and James Hanson also made late mistakes chasing the game, in contrast to how the Boks reserves turned the momentum at 10-8 down.

"Their bench was quality," skipper Michael Hooper said. "It came on got a lot of carries and got over the ad line and got round the corner of us. We couldn't keep up with them."

Beale started both Tests against Rugby Championship victors New Zealand at five-eighth last month before making way for Bernard Foley, but is yet to run on at inside centre for the Wallabies after starring there for NSW in Super Rugby.