Tokyo (AFP)
The South African coach Rassie Erasmus has bet on 22 of the 23 players who had obtained the draw (16-16) at the end of July in New Zealand, to challenge the All Blacks in the great shock of the start of the World Cup, Saturday (18:45 local, 11:45 French) in Yokohama.
The only change concerns the third line, where captain Siya Kolisi, absent from injury in late July, will be present.
The winner of this match between two of the World Cup favorites will be almost certain to finish first in Pool B and avoid Ireland in the quarter-finals.
Composition of the South Africa team:
Roux - Kolbe, Am, of Allende, Mapimpi - (o) Pollard, (m) of Klerk - from the Roof, Vermeulen, Kolisi (cap.) - Mostert, Etzebeth - Malherbe, Marx, Kitshoff
Alternates: Mbonambi, Mtawarira, Nyakane, RG Snyman, Louw, Jantjies, F. Steyn, Kriel
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