Cheslin Kolbe returns from injury to face Japan in World Cup quarter

Yes, stranger things have happened (see, e.g. Brighton 2015) but this particular version of the Boks is more like the traditional South African teams before the doldrums of 2014-2017: they will apply pressure from minute one to the end, finish strong, play defence offensively, and make teams stress and make mistakes and play in the wrong areas of the field. Japan is disciplined, yes, but I think they might have been reading their own press clippings a bit too much (understandable) and try to build 5+ phases against the Boks, who will line them up for a chop, and slow or turnover, and then, use serious speed (not talking Celtic speed now; we are talking African speed) to finish it.

Absolutely. What a bench!

Well i think this last QF will have the largest margin of all the 4 games. The Japanese team will have huge crowd support and Joseph saying they would like the ball in play for 50 mins is great. However! However if the Boks dominate the game, which I thing they will, particularly in the set pieces it might be difficult tor the BB to have 50 mins of possession. That’s taking away nothing from the Brave Blossoms, they have been a revelation and the crowd support is something else!

Old Bugger, you are not the humble Old Bugger of the past roar interactions, but anyways. That Old bugger only had immense respect for the Boks rivalry, as we Bok fans had immense respect for the AB's. You seem a bit more of a wind up artiste. No dramas, to return fire with fire, I will say this, I think Ireland could win this weekend, why because the AB's have severe try scoring problems in the second half. They have failed to score a second half try against the top tier nations, in the last five or six games. Notable in the Japan WC game where they couldn't score a second half try against the Boks. Also Wellington, also Dublin, Also Twickers. In short the AB bench is not on the level of the 2015 team. Ireland have a real chance I think.

The Japanese are tough, they won’t submit to the belting SA always dish out. The Japanese are faster off the mark. Not favourites but they could dismantle this big SA side.

The Boks won the second half (10-6) in the Pool match, and did the same in the Wellington draw. That bench is phenomenal. Most of those 6 forwards would start for most teams.

In all honesty OB, that’s probably some of the most mobile tight forwards you’ll find in the game. Not sure how it relates to the AB game but would relish some more insight from you. Pumped about the game though

So you are saying that Japan are aerobically superior compare to the ABs?

The AB’s exploited our mistakes for a five minute period, the rest of the match was even stevens. Which Japanese forwards are in another class when it comes to mobility?

Are you sure about this....??? How mobile were these forwards against the ABs in the opener??? You are up against a side that wants to truly, increase the time-in-play with ball in hand so if you believe your bench can sustain this aerobic pressure then, no worries except, it went awol in the opener against the ABs. Now, let's ask if 3-4 weeks of matches against Tier-2 nations, has actually improved, this fitness level to meet a side, like Japan who will play this game, at an exceptional rate of knots.

Mobile forwards off the bench. Could turn the tide in the last 20.

Solid Solid team - 6:2 split again with two locks. Expectation is obviously that the forwards are going to be doing the grunt work again and are to be fully refreshed from the bench to cope with the pace for the game

Good team selected with a strong bench. I think it’s going to be a tough night for the Brave Blossums