Siya Kolisi will become the third player to captain the Springboks in a World Cup match wearing the number six jersey [Source: Biznews]
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has named his team for the Pool B match against New Zealand.
The Boks will face the All Blacks this Saturday at 9:45pm at International Stadium Yokohama.
Steven Kitshoff
Malcolm Marx
Frans Malherbe
Eben Etzebeth
Franco Mostert
Siya Kolisi (capt.)
Pieter-Steph Du Toit
Duane Vermeulen
Faf De Klerk
Handre Pollard
Makazole Mapimpi
Damian de Allende
Lukhanyo Am
Cheslin Kolbe
Willie Le Roux
Mbongeni Mbonambi
Tendai Mtawarira
Trevor Nyakane
RG Snyman
Francois Louw
Herschel Jantjies
Frans Steyn
Jesse Kriel
Apart from one exception, South Africa have the same line-up against the All Blacks as they had on 27 July, 2019, in the Rugby Championship in Wellington, a match that was drawn 16-16. Siya Kolisi was injured then and Kwagga Smith played at number six. The bench was identical to Saturday’s bench.
It is the same 23 as in the win 41-7 win over Japan on 6 September, 2019, their last warm-up match before the World Cup started.
Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard are the starting halfbacks for the 12th time, and are therefore the most settled partnership at nine and 10 for the Springboks since 2014.
Siya Kolisi will become the third player to captain the Springboks in a World Cup match wearing the number six jersey, following Francois Pienaar (five matches in 1995) and Corné Krige (three matches in 2003).
Makazole Mapimpi has scored eight tries in eight appearances for the Springboks.
In the professional era, only Bryan Habana (10) and Stefan Terblanche (8) also scored at least eight tries in their first eight appearances for the Springboks.
Frans Steyn is the only player left from the squad that won RWC 2007. He is vying to become the second Springbok to win two world titles after Os du Randt (1995, 2007).
Malcolm Marx made his debut against New Zealand on 17 September 2016 in the Rugby Championship. He recorded a try in two of his last five test appearances against the All Blacks.
Trevor Nyakane made appearances in all seven of the Boks’ matches at RWC 2015, coming on as a replacement prop in all seven.
Cheslin Kolbe scored three of his five test tries against the All Blacks.
