Damian Willemse at full-back as South Africa rotate for Canada clash
Last Updated: 06/10/19 11:54am
Damian Willemse will start at full-back as South Africa made 13 changes for their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash against minnows on Canada in Kobe on Tuesday, where victory will seal a quarter-final place for the Springboks.
Willemse was an injury replacement for centre Jesse Kriel, but has been selected in the number 15 jersey in a back three that also includes Warrick Gelant and Sbu Nkosi on the wings.
"Damian probably would have made the World Cup squad if he wasn't injured, but is match-fit now having played two games for (English club) Saracens," coach Rassie Erasmus told reporters in Kobe on Sunday.
"He is much more comfortable at 15 and knows our systems, while Warrick has played wing before."
Damian de Allende and Frans Steyn make up the midfield pairing, while Elton Jantjies takes over at fly-half and will want an improved performance after a sloppy showing in the 57-3 mauling of Namibia in their second pool match. He will be partnered by Cobus Reinach at scrum-half.
Captain Siya Kolisi has been retained at flank to get more game-time after an injury-ravaged season, while Kwagga Smith is on the opposite side of the scrum and Francois Louw at number eight.
"You have to make sure a guy strikes form and maintains form when you get to the important games of the World Cup," Erasmus says of the decision to keep Kolisi in the line-up.
"We are happy he is peaking, last weekend (against Italy) he was excellent and another game like that going into quarterfinals will do him the world of good."
Franco Mostert and RG Snyman are the two locks, Vincent Koch and Thomas du Toit pack down in the front row at prop, with Schalk Brits at hooker.
"A four-day turnaround between tests is a challenge but we had planned for it and will be well prepared," Erasmus said.
"This match is just as important as the three that we have already played it has the same number of log points available and the same impact on our chances of qualifying and we have to now complete the job.
"There are a number of new combinations in our team but we have been together for several weeks now and everyone understands our gameplan and strategies.
"The nice thing is that at the end of the match every member of the squad will have started a Rugby World Cup match."
Canada has lost 48-7 to Italy and 63-0 to New Zealand in its two World Cup games and is expected to struggle again at Kobe Misaki Stadium no matter which squad South Africa fields.
But Canada winger DTH van der Merwe has said he's going to enjoy it no matter what. He was born in South Africa before his family moved to Canada in 2003. Van der Merwe has played for Canada for 13 years and has 38 tries in 60 tests, but he's never played against his country of birth before.
When he does on Tuesday, he'll break the Canadian record with his 15th World Cup appearance.
"I think there'll be some mixed emotions singing the national anthems ... I'm a proud Canadian but I'm also still a proud South African as well," he said.
Van der Merwe can also become the fifth man after Brian Lima, Brian O'Driscoll, Gareth Thomas and Adam Ashley-Cooper to score a try in four World Cups.
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Warrick Gelant, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Sbu Nkosi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 1 Thomas du Toit, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 RG Snyman, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Kwagga Smith, 8 Francois Louw
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Willie le Roux.
Canada: 15 Andrew Coe, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Conor Trainor, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 DTH Van Der Merwe, 10 Peter Nelson, 9 Phil Mack, 1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Lucas Rumball, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Tyler Ardron (c)
Replacements: 16 Benoit Piffero, 17 Djustice Sears Duru, 18 Matt Tierney, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Michael Sheppard, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Shane O'Leary, 23 Guiseppe du Toit