Rassie Erasmus makes some changes to his line-up, the most eye catching being the deployment of Schalk Brits at Number 8. Brits has had some year, the hooker firstly retired from playing, then came back, then returned to the national squad and now he’s playing in the back row in a World Cup. Oldest story in the world, eh? The backline has much to it as well,and the two Jantjieses at half back are the perfect pairing to orchestrate the mauling this is likely to be.
Mark Jones, former Wales winger and now part of the Namibia coaching setup, said this week, “we have to rely on ourselves being resilient in defence”. Yeah, good luck with that. But, what Namibia always bring is commitment and whatever the score ends up as, it won’t be due to a lack of them trying to prevent it.
South Africa: Warrick Gelant; Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Frans Steyn, Makazole Mapimpi, Elton Jantjies, Herschel Jantjies; Tendai Mtawarira, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Francois Louw, Kwagga Smith, Schalk Brits (captain).
Replacements: Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Cobus Reinach, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe.
Namibia: Johan Tromp; Chad Plato, JC Greyling, Peter John Walters, Lesley Klim, Cliven Loubser, Eugene Jantjies; Desiderius Sethie, Louis van der Westhuizen, AJ De Klerk, Johan Retief, Tjiuee Uanivi (captain), Thomasau Forbes, Muharua Katjijeko, Adriaan Booysen.
Replacements: Obert Nortje, Andre Rademeyer, Johannes Coetzee, Prince Gaoseb, Janco Venter, Wian Conradie, Helarius Axasman Kisting, Johan Deysel.