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South Africa has confirmed a 31-man roster for RWC 2019. Head Coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for 17 forwards, and 14 backs and has gone for experience.
Captain Siya Kolisi will lead a group of world class players who are a mixture big names in Super Rugby as well as Europe. The one notable absentee is injured winger Aphiwe Dyantyi, who won the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award in 2018.
The genuine title contenders are grouped together with Canada, Italy, Namibia, New Zealand in Pool B. They are to begin their campaign on day two of RWC 2019, doing so against New Zealand in Yokohama. Their match against Canada will be their final pool fixture and will take place on October 08.
Before the RWC begins South Africa will already have played a match in Japan. The Springboks will play their final RWC warm-up match against Japan on Friday September 06 in Kumagaya. The fixture will be the highly anticipated re-match of the miracle of Brighton from RWC 2015.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, UK), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Schalk Brits (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, UK), RG Snyman (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Siya Kolisi (capt., Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath, UK), Kwagga Smith (Lions), Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
BACKS
Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, UK), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, UK), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Stormers), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, FR), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, FR), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Willie le Roux (Wasps, UK)
