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South Africa name unchanged side for World Cup semi-final clash against England
By Josh Raisey
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has decided to stick to a winning formula and has named an unchanged squad to face England in the World Cup semi-final on Saturday at the Stade de France.
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The Springboks came away 29-28 winners against France in the quarter-finals in a game that has been heralded as one of the all-time greats. In light of that performance, Nienaber has named both the same starting XV and bench for only the second time in his tenure.
“We’ve been building a quality Rugby World Cup squad for the last few years so that we could be in this position going into the knockout matches,” said Nienaber.
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“We have a squad of 33 players, all of whom are very closely matched in terms of their skill and quality of play which made it tempting to make changes this week and it was tough to select this group both last week and this week. But we feel it’s now time to go with the players in the squad who we believe are in their best form.”
Of the 23-player squad, 15 of them featured in the World Cup final victory over England four years ago, which came into Nienaber’s thinking when selecting the team.
He said: “This may not have much significance, but the fact remains that these players have been here before, and they know what it will take to defeat a top-quality team such as England.”
South Africa XV
15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 37 caps, 56 pts (4t, 9c, 4p, 2d)
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 13 caps, 65 pts (13t)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 66 caps, 75 pts (15t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 76 caps, 55 pts (11t)
11 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 29 caps, 91 pts (14t, 3c, 5p)
10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 13 caps, 84 pts (1t, 26c, 9p)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 30 caps, 60 pts (12t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby) – 74 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 74 caps, 40 pts (8t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 81 caps, 50 pts (10t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 71 caps, 15 pts (3t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 117 caps, 30 pts (6t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 67 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 66 caps, 65pts (13t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (Ulster) – 81 caps, 10 pts (2t)
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Replacements
16 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 11 caps, 10 pts (2t)
17 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 26 caps, 0 pts
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 48 caps, 0pts
19 – RG Snyman (Munster) – 32 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 38 caps, 35 pts (7t)
21 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 53 caps, 48 pts (5t, 4c, 5p)
22 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 68 caps, 678 pts (7T, 95C, 146P, 5D)
23 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 91 caps, 75 pts (15t)
I honestly thought there’d be more rotation of players. Particularly amongst the forwards.
Great team.
I agree the Boks, looking at 3 - 4 weeks, maybe had it more relaxed, but you cannot take away the bite from the QF. I feel one or 2 more backline okes should get the experience of a must win game before the final.. What about injuries? Can you expect a player to be ready to play in the final against NZ not having had any exposure to a QF or SF? Make no mistake I back every player, I just think there should be a look at prepping the entire squad for the ultimate showdown.
And these reserves like Moodie and Esterhuizen can do with the confidence boost.
Honestly as well, Willie wil, maar Willie kan nie meer nie. He is taking up space for someone else to shine.
would have given André Esterhuizen a go, but ok ….
Thought so too…. DDA has been good though
While I dont always agree with those TAS videos, evidence is evidence. There was a lot of hits to the head on the Bok players during the French game. So people who criticize the HIA is alarming
agree. Far more than I realized. France could have 12 players on the field at one point. Rules are simply, head collision and the player has an HIA. it’s the right thing to do.
Maybe Conrad should go and spend some time with ex players who are now suffering from head collisions because world rugby didn’t have the right processes in place to look after players.
Eng chances went from 20% down to 2.0% Boks had a bye in the 5th week of pool play, alot of the big guns sat out of the final Bok game aswell(week 4) so for some 1st choice players they had a 3 week gap till the 1/4 vs France- So they should be ok. Eng better hope for rain and cards.
The avg diff of player minutes is only 16.
Emg vs 216min Boks avg 200min
Very surprised by this team selection. Would’ve preferred to Duane Vermeulen, DDA, Kriel and Kolbe rested. Game against French must have been absolutely sapping and can’t believe these guys have fully recovered, especially not Duane.
think if you look at actual minutes in combat this WC - we are fine.
I just can’t understand the Willie thing he has been poor for a long time, and i’m not nocking him it is just a fact. If Pollard comes on move Liebbok to 15 this way you still have a play maker on the field and then select a Marko van Staden or Jasper Wiese that gives you two fresh loose forwards with Kwagga on the field for last 40min.
Agreed don’t get the Willie obsession…
Yes!
If you insist on 3 backline players on the bench, rather Am or Moody then. I would have started with Faf / Pollard and a 6-2 split.
I wonder if Rassie intends to abuse the HIA process again to run a league style interchange in the second half? Or will that tactic be saved for the final?
Surely Rassie isn't treating the spirit of Rugby with contempt again is he?
Just looking at the previous ban and here's the summary:
Erasmus:
1.threatened a match official that unless a requested meeting took place, he would publish footage containing clips criticising the match official’s performance and then making good on that threat;
2.published or permitted to be published the Erasmus Video containing numerous comments that were either abusive, insulting and/or offensive to match officials;
attacked, disparaged and/or denigrated the game and the match officials;
3.did not accept or observe the authority and decisions of match officials;
4.published or caused to be published criticism of the manner in which a match official handled a match;
5.engaged in conduct or activity that may impair public confidence in the integrity and good character of match official(s); and
6.brought the game into disrepute when he published or caused to be published the Erasmus Video
If emptying of the bench early in the second half and using the HIA process to regularly refresh his forwards isn't bringing the game into disrepute then I don't know what is.
World rugby has to urgently sort this out before kickoffs this weekend as it's cheating.
I think World Rugby have open the door on this. With the emphasis on player safety, no ref is going to block a team asking for HIA if there has been head contact. Imagine the blow back / law suit if there was serious head contact and a ref said no HIA - never happen.
therefore, with the door open, teams will “smartly” use this. Sport is professional and any advantage particularly in a world cup will be taken.
I am not saying the Boks did this, but coming back to your question of if there is a head knock, is HIA warranted? It is maybe not warranted but the door is open and teams will do it.
If a player takes a knock to the head. Do you think that an HIA is warranted?
They have too, if you look at the AB & Argies they also announced basically unchanged sides. It is now do or die you have to select your best all all times.
I’m confused, AF. How will this team possibly get up again?
Because they can. That’s what it takes to win a WC which is why the SH have won eight out of nine.
Their minutes playing were well managed. Most play only half a game. They are also in top condition. But we will see this weekend.