LONDON – South Africa has named their most experienced team ever for their opening clash of the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Japan in Brighton.
The starting squad boasts 880 caps which will surpass the previous most experienced squad of 836 appearances which played in the Springboks’ quarter final loss to Australia in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Coach Heyneke Meyer has named 6 changes to the team that won against Argentina in Buenos Aires a month ago with Jean de Villiers the only change to the backline. After suffering a broken jaw during the Rugby Championship, de Villiers has appeared to win his race to be fit for the first match of the Rugby World Cup.
In a pack reshuffle, Francois Louw slots back in at flanker with Lood de Jager and Jannie du Plessis both returning from injury in the tight five. Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira also return up front which is as close to Meyer’s strongest front row as we’re likely to see in the opening pool matches.
South Africa team to play Japan
1 Tendai Mtawarira
2 Bismarck du Plessis
3 Jannie du Plessis
4 Lood de Jager
5 Victor Matfield
6 Francois Louw
7 Willem Alberts
8 Schalk Burger
9 Ruan Pienaar
10 Pat Lambie
11 Lwazi Mvovo
12 Jean de Villiers (c)
13 Jesse Kriel
14 Bryan Habana
15 Zane Kirchner
Replacements
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 JP Pietersen.