Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his starting XV for his team’s vital clash with Italy on Friday at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Tendai Mtawarira, Bongi Mbonambi, Lood de Jager, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am are the only survivors from Saturday’s 57-3 victory over Namibia.
Mtawarira and Mbonambi are joined by Frans Malherbe in the front-row, while Eben Etzebeth links-up with de Jager in engine-room.
Captain Siya Kolisi comes in as the blindside-flanker, with Pieter-Steph du Toit on the openside and Duane Vermeaulen completing the pack from No 8.
The electric Faf de Klerk returns to the scrum-half position with Handre Pollard back at fly-half, while Damien de Allende joins Am in the centre.
Mapimpi continues on the left-wing after grabbing a brace against the Namibians, while Cheslin Kolbe is on the right and Will le Roux starts at full-back.
On the bench Erasmus has chosen to only pick two backs among his replacements in Herschel Jantjies and Frans Steyn but the head coach believes that the battle of the packs will be where this game is won or lost.
“Italy have a very good pack and put a lot of effort in their set phases. People may think it is a gamble to have only two back replacements but we want to have plenty of ammunition for what is likely to be a major forward battle. It’s a 23-player game these days and the players who come on will be expected to contribute almost as much in game time as those who start among the front rowers. But for this game we are asking the players we have chosen to start to set the tone,” he said.
Erasmus is also well aware that the Italians will have been looking at this game to try and cause an upset, admitting his team will need their A game to win.
“Italy have had their eyes on this match for a couple of years and will have planned and schemed how to bring us down once again. This is a defining match for them and while we were focusing on the New Zealand game, they will have had their eyes on this one as the key to the quarter-finals for them. That means we have to be at our absolute best if we are to beat them – we are at the stage already where there are no second chances. That’s a message we have been emphasising to the players this week,” he added.
South Africa know a victory here is crucial following their opening round loss to New Zealand, and they will need to be at their best if they are to overcome an Italian side that has impressed so far and know full well that a win for them could see them take a quarter-final place ahead of the Boks.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.
Starting XV:
15. Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
12. Damian de Allende (Stormers)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
10. Handré Pollard (Bulls)
9. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks)
8. Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
6. Siya Kolisi (captain, Stormers)
5. Lood de Jager (Bulls)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
3. Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
Replacements:
16. Malcolm Marx (Lions)
17. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
18. Vincent Koch (Saracens)
19. RG Snyman (Bulls)
20. Franco Mostert (Gloucester)
21. Francois Louw (Bath)
22. Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)
23. Frans Steyn (Montpellier)
