Coach Jacques Nienaber chose to start Handré Pollard, recovered from a calf injury and called into the group last week. A total of 12 changes were made by South Africa for the Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Tonga on Sunday in Marseille, where victory is imperative. Pollard played only 30 minutes since May due to his injury, but the Springboks are eager to give him game time as his goalscoring skills could be crucial in the knockout matches.
Number eight Jasper Wiese, captain Siya Kolisi and second row Eben Etzebeth were the only players who started in the 13-8 defeat to Ireland last weekend. Nienaber also returned to a 5-3 split between forwards and guards on the bench, which is rare for his team.
Third-row center Deon Fourie, who played his first match at hooker in five years against Romania in the group stages, is starting in the front row and his replacement will be another flanker, Marco van Staden, who is also a replacement for number two.
La composition de l’Afrique du Sud : 15 – Willie le Roux, 14 – Grant Williams, 13 – Canan Moodie, 12 – Andre Esterhuizen, 11 – Makazole Mapimpi, 10 – Handre Pollard, 9 – Cobus Reinach, 8 – Jasper Wiese, 7 – Duane Vermeulen, 6 – Siya Kolisi (capt.), 5 – Marvin Orie, 4 – Eben Etzebeth, 3 – Vincent Koch, 2 – Deon Fourie, 1 – Ox Nche
Finishers: 16 – Marco van Staden, 17 – Steven Kitshoff, 18 – Trevor Nyakane, 19 – Franco Mostert, 20 – Kwagga Smith, 21 – Jaden Hendrikse, 22 – Jesse Kriel, 23 – Manie Libbok.
