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Fourie du Preez will lead the Springboks for the first time in a test match, taking over the captaincy from Jean de Villiers after the centre was forced to drop out of the tournament with a broken jaw. Heyneke Meyer has made only three changes from the side that beat Samoa for the critical Pool B match against Scotland on Saturday.
Bismarck du Plessis returns to the run-on side, taking over from Adriaan Strauss, while Lood de Jager takes over from Victor Matfield in the second row. Jesse Kriel is selected to the midfield in place of de Villiers, forming an exciting combination with Damian de Allende, one that many pundits were keen to see in action heading into the tournament.
Newly recalled Jan Serfontein jumps right into the match day squad, taking the empty backs reserve slot, while Pieter-Steph du Toit and Willem Alberts are summoned to add formidable physical presence as impact forward subs. Schalk Brits drops out completely to allow for Strauss to take up residency as secondary hooker.
South Africa must win the match to keep their quarter-final dreams intact, with their unexpected loss to Japan putting them under tremendous pressure. The Springboks have won 20 of 25 past meetings between the two, including four in a row, the last a 55-6 thrashing in Port Elizabeth in June of last year.
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Tendai Mtawarira 2 Bismarck du Plessis 3 Jannie du Plessis 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Lood de Jager 6 Francois Louw 7 Schalk Burger 8 Duane Vermeulen 9 Fourie du Preez (capt.) 10 Handré Pollard 11 Bryan Habana 12 Damian de Allende 13 Jesse Kriel 14 JP Pietersen 15 Willie le Roux
16 Adriaan Strauss 17 Trevor Nyakane 18 Frans Malherbe 10 Pieter-Steph du Toit 20 Willem Alberts 21 Ruan Pienaar 22 Patrick Lambie 23 Jan Serfontein
