Springboks roll out big guns for Japan clash

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South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus has named a formidable line-up for their final Rugby World Cup warm-up game, against Japan in Kumagaya.

22 of the Springbok 23 that fought to a last-gasp draw against New Zealand in July are included in the squad for Friday’s away clash.

The return to the starting line-up of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, now fully recovered from injury, is the only change to the team that drew 16-16 with the All Blacks to open the way to a first Rugby Championship in a decade, in Wellington six weeks ago.

Erasmus underlined the significance of the challenge and warned the Boks not to be complacent against a very good Japanese team.

It means there are 18 changes in personnel to the last selection ā€“ the team which defeated Argentina 24-18 ā€“ to complete the Springboks’ domestic programme at Loftus Versfeld two weeks ago.

The only survivors of that match ā€“ along with Kolisi ā€“ are RG Snyman and Jesse Kriel, who drop down to the bench, Faf de Klerk who returns to the starting line-up, and Frans Steyn, who covers several positions from the bench, for a fifth successive time.

Kolisi replaces Kwagga Smith ā€“ who drops out of the 23 altogether ā€“ in what has become an otherwise settled combination, appearing in essence for the third time this season. This was also the group which clinched the Rugby Championship with a resounding 46-13 victory over the Pumas in Salta.

The current Springbok squad has nine survivors of that matchday 23 ā€“ Kriel, HandrĆ© Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kolisi, Francois Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Tendai Mtawarira and Trevor Nyakane ā€“ and Erasmus said the 2019 squad had discussed that match. Only De Jager will not re-appear on Friday.

Japan beat Italy at home a year ago and also led England at half-time at Twickenham in November 2018, during a sequence of six victories in nine matches since the start of that year which has seen them climb the rankings to equal their highest place ever position of ninth.

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 HandrƩ Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel

Date: Friday, September 6
Venue: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
Kick-off: 19:15 local (11:15 BST, 10:15 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry

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