Number eight Duane Vermeulen will win his 50th South Africa cap in the Springboks’ World Cup opener against New Zealand with Rassie Erasmus naming an unchanged team.
The South Africans beat Japan 41-7 in their final warm-up fixture, and Erasmus has stuck with the same 23-man squad, with Siya Kolisi captaining the side from openside flanker.
It is the first time in four years that South Africa have named an unchanged squad.
“We’ve found some consistency and some momentum in a number of ways this season,” said Erasmus. “And one of them is in selection.
“We have 31 players in the squad, any of whom I would be happy to select – as well as standby players back home – but this is a line-up that has worked well as a starting combination and one with real momentum to come from the bench.
“They have emerged together over the past 18 months as our game has developed and matured.
“We’re continuing to develop and new players are always pushing a claim but we’ve prepared well and we’re looking forward to what will be another extremely close match.”
Vermeulen and Kolisi are joined in the back row by Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe start at prop, with Malcolm Marx at hooker.
Erasmus can call upon one of the world’s best locking combinations, with Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert again paired from the start and RG Snyman’s dynamism and power held in reserve.
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Livewire Sale scrum-half Faf de Klerk starts alongside Handre Pollard in the halves, with Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am forming a defensively solid midfield.
Cheslin Kolbe, one of the most dangerous strike runners in world rugby, starts on the right wing. He is joined in the back three by Makazole Mapimpi and Willie le Roux.
South Africa drew 16-16 with New Zealand during this summer’s Rugby Championship, and this squad includes just one change from the 23 selected then, with captain Kolisi fit again and included instead of Kwagga Smith.
The Yokohama clash could decide who tops Pool B, which also includes Italy, Namibia and Canada.
South Africa team to play New Zealand in Yokohama (10.45am BST, September 21)
15. Willie le Roux (Wasps, England), 56 caps – 60 points (12 tries)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), 10 – 25 (5t)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), 9 – 5 (1t)
12. Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), 40 – 20 (4t)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 8 – 40 (8t)
10. Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), 42 – 388 (6t, 65c, 73p, 3d)
9. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), 25 – 15 (3t)
8. Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls), 49 – 15 (3t)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 50 – 20 (4t)
6. Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers), 43 – 25 (5t)
5. Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), 32 – 5 (1t)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), 79 – 15 (3t)
3. Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), 32 – 0
2. Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), 27 – 20 (4t)
1. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), 40 – 5 (1t)
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 30 – 20 (4t)
17. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 111 – 10 (2t)
18. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 41 – 5 (1t)
19. RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), 16 – 0
20. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 69 – 45 (9t)
21. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), 4 – 20 (4t)
22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 61 – 136 (10t, 7c, 21p, 3d)
23. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 45 – 60 (12t)