South Africa are set to play the USA at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, in their final Pool B match. The Springboks coach, Heyneke Meyer, has named his team for the crucial clash against the US with qualification yet to be secured.
Meyer has made two changes to his team that beat Scotland on the third of October with Jannie Du Plessis being dropped and replaced by Frans Malherbe. Also, Lwazi Mvovo comes in at number eleven with Bryan Habana moving over to the right-wing. Surprisingly, S JP Pietersen is not in the matchday 23.
South Africa made no changes to their side between the semi-final and final matches at the 2007 World Cup – going on to win the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup. Two changes are the fewest the African side have made to their team in successive World Cup matches, since their 2007 victory.
Schalk Burger will also make his 17th World Cup match appearance against the USA – equaling the team record currently held by John Smit. Victor Matfield is also close on 16 but is not involved in the matchday squad.
Fourie du Preez has been selected as the Springboks captain for the match, captaining the side for the second time in his test career. He first captained his side in their 34-16 victory over Scotland last Saturday and the scrum-half will make his 74th test appearance this Wednesday.
Morné Steyn is in the matchday squad for the first time in this year’s Rugby World Cup. At the last World Cup he was the tournament’s top scorer with sixty-two points.
Springboks Starting XV
15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian De Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie Du Preez (capt)
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bismarck Du Plessis, 3 Frans Melherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lodewyk De Jager, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Duane Vermeulen
Replacements
16 Schalk Brits, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Jan Serfontein
