The Springboks are chasing a bonus point victory in their final World Cup group match against Tonga in Marseille and Handré Pollard will wear the no.10 jersey for the South Africans.
It will be the 29-year-old flyhalf’s first Test since August 2022 after injuries kept him on the international sidelines for months.
Manie Libbok along with Jaden Hendrikse and Jesse Kriel are the back players on the substitutes’ bench.
Siya Kolisi – who will captain the Springboks for the 50th time – forms the loose trio with Duane Vermeulen and Jasper Wiese, while Deon Fourie will drop into the middle of the Bok front row.
“This is a strong and physical team; the perfect opponent for Tonga who plays with passion and power,” said Jacques Nienaber.
According to the Springbok coach, every player in the match group knows what is expected of him – after all, a place in the quarter-finals of the international rugby spectacle beckons.
“Accurate, physical play will be crucial to achieve the desired result. Tonga will probably play like a team that has nothing to lose and they will not simply back down on the playing field.”
The match starts at 21:00 on Sunday and the action will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springboks: Willie le Roux (full back), Grant Williams (right wing), Canan Moodie (outside centre), André Esterhuizen (inside centre), Makazole Mapimpi (left wing), Handré Pollard (fly-half), Cobus Reinach (scrum-half), Jasper Wiese (eighth man), Duane Vermeulen (flank), Siya Kolisi (flank and captain), Marvin Orie (lock), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Vincent Koch (prop), Deon Fourie (hooker) and Ox Nche (prop). Substitutes: Marco van Staden, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Jesse Kriel and Manie Libbok.
