South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus made one change if he named his team for Saturday’s crunch Rugby World Cup clash with the reigning champions from the starting XV that drew New Zealand in July.
Siya Kolisi, who missed the Wellington draw due to trauma, will captain the side in place of Kwagga Smith in flanker to produce an imposing row that is back with number eight Duane Vermeulen and blindside Pieter Steph du Toit.
Otherwise, Erasmus has stuck with the side that last played with the All Blacks for a match that’s likely to determine who wins Pool B and loves the possibly relatively easier route through to the final.
The squad for its Yokohama battle was identical to this one Erasmus put out to the victory over Japan in Kumagaya that month that kept the Springboks unbeaten.
«We’ve found some consistency and some momentum in a number of ways this year and one of them is in selection,» Erasmus said.
«We’ve 31 players in the squad, any of whom I’d be happy to select… but this really is a line-up which has worked well as a starting combination and one with real momentum to come in the bench.
«We are continuing to build up and new players are always pushing a claim but we’ve prepared well and we’re looking ahead to what will be another extremely close match.»
While Cheslin Kolbe held onto his position on the ideal wing despite the shape of both Sbu Nkosi prop Trevor Nyakane retained his position despite question marks over his fitness.
There was no place for Smith or even Nkosi together with Francois Louw covering the rear row and Jesse Kriel the back three, about the bench.
The Frans Steyn will pay for the centres and act as with Elton Jantjies.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk; 1 Steven Kitshoff, 2 Malcom Marx, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel.
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