The Springboks have reverted to the starting XV and replacements that recorded a 49-3 victory over Italy a fortnight ago for the do-or-die Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Japan in Tokyo on Sunday.
It means 13 changes to the starting XV from the one which concluded the Boks’ pool campaign with a 66-7 demolition of Canada in Kobe last Tuesday, and Rassie Erasmus said the Boks are ready for the challenge.
Only Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Damian de Allende who switches from outside centre back to the more familiar inside centre position are retained from the Kobe XV.
Caps and Records
The starting XV boasts 665 caps, the most in a Springbok team since the 2015 Rugby World Cup when the squad included three Test centurions in Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana.
The team to meet Japan contains five players with 50 or more caps in Willie le Roux, Duane Vermeulen (who wins 50th cap as a No 8, a Springbok record), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth and centurion Mtawarira. There are another four players in the 40s in Kolisi, De Jager, De Allende and Handré Pollard.
The Springboks are aiming to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals for the fifth time in seven appearances while, for Japan, it is their first appearance in the play-off rounds at the ninth attempt.
The winner will play the victor in the France v Wales match in Yokohama on Sunday, 27 October.
The team:
15 Willie le Roux
14 Cheslin Kolbe
13 Lukhanyo Am
12 Damian de Allende
11 Makazole Mapimpi
10 Handre Pollard
9 Faf de Klerk
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit,
6 Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 Lood de Jager
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Frans Malherbe
2 Bongi Mbonambi
1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn.
Kick-Of on Sunday is at 12.15 pm (SA time)
-African News Agency (ANA)
