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South Africa have been dealt a selection boost ahead of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final with star winger Cheslin Kolbe named by Rassie Erasmus in the starting XV.
Kolbe, one of the Springboks’ best players in Japan, missed the side’s dour semi-final win over Wales last Sunday with an ankle injury but has been passed fit for Saturday’s decider against England.
The diminutive winger has replaced Sbu Nkosi in the number 14 jersey, with Erasmus otherwise sticking with an unchanged 23 for the final.
That means the out-of-form Willie le Roux has kept his place at fullback, although there was never any real danger of him being dropped, and that star front-rowers Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitschoff have remained on the bench, with Tendai Mtawarira and Bongi Mbongambi starting at prop and hooker respectively.
The Boks have received a boost from their bench forwards throughout the tournament, and can expect the same on Saturday night. There are only two backs – Herschel Jantjies and Frans Steyn – in the reserves, with Kitschoff and Marx two of six forwards on the pine.
Springboks team for Rugby World Cup final
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Lood de Jager
6. Siya Kolisi (c)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Faf de Klerk
10. Handré Pollard
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Damian de Allende
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Cheslin Kolbe
15. Willie le Roux
Bench
16. Malcolm Marx
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Vincent Koch
19. RG Snyman
20. Franco Mostert
21. Francois Louw
22. Herschel Jantjies
23. Frans Steyn
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