Rugby VAVEL

Springboks starting XV unchanged for New Zealand semi-final

Heyneke Meyer has announced an unchanged side from the win over Wales, with the experienced Victor Matfield returning to the bench

Springboks starting XV unchanged for New Zealand semi-final
Duane Vermeulen & Frans Malherbe have been named n the side to face New Zealand (image via: express)
tom-hiscott
By Tom Hiscott

South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer has named an unchanged starting line-up ahead of Saturday's Rugby World Cup semi-final where they will face New Zealand

Victor Matfield returns to take his place on the substitutes' bench, in the place of Pieter-Steph du Toit in the only change to the matchday 23. 

After overcoming the Welsh last Saturday with a 23-19 victory, the Springboks are now just two wins away from winning their third Rugby World Cup. 

They will face a New Zealand side who are coming off the back of the most one-sided World Cup quarter-final of all time, where they overwhelmed the French in a 62-13 thumping in Cardiff. 

Experience is key for Meyer

The starting line-up have 701 test caps to their name, and includes five players from South Africa's last World Cup semi-final eight years ago, when they beat Argentina in Paris on their way to winning the tournament. 

Overall, eight of the 23 players who are involved on Saturday played against the Pumas eight years ago, and have tasted World Cup success; JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Bismarck du Plessis, Schalk Burger, Jannie du Plessis, Ruan Pienaar and Matfield. 

After another stunning performance in the quarter-final last Saturday, Burger will extend his national record to 19 World Cup games when he takes to the field against the Kiwis. Scrum-half du Preez will captain the side again, and will be riding high on confidence after his match-winning try in the quarter-final. 

Etzebeth and de Jager continue in second-row

With Matfield back, but only on the bench, the second-row duo of Eben Etzebeth and Lodewyk de Jager are given another opportunity to impress on the sport's biggest stage. The young pair have been excellent so far, and it would have been cruel on either to start Matfield in their place.

Willem Alberts remains on the bench as an impact player, behind back-row starters Francois Louw, Burger and Duane Vermeulen, who is probably the best number number eight in world rugby right now. Handre Pollard continues at fly-half, with Willie le Roux the other kicking option from full-back. 

Kriel and de Allende the centre of attention once more

After losing Leicester-bound Jean de Villiers to injury after the victory over Samoa, many wondered how the Boks would cope without their iconic leader. De Villiers had been a mainstay of this side for the last decade, before fracturing his jaw against the Samoans which ended his international career. 

His absence has allowed the centre partnership of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel to flourish over the past few games following their impressive debut performances in the Rugby Championship, allbeit in losing causes. Kriel's excellent running lines are perfect outside the confrontational de Allende who generally always break the gain line with ball in hand. 

The semi-final will be an excellent gauge for how far these two players have come, when they most likely face one of the world's best-ever centre tandems of Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu

Habana still on hunt for record World Cup try

Star winger, Bryan Habana, is the only player in the tournament who has played a full 80 minutes in his side's five matches to date and has scored five tries so far. 

Those five tries, added to his ten at previous World Cup's, have moved him level with Jonah Lomu on the all-time list, with Saturday another opportunity to go past the mark set by Lomu 16 years ago. 

How the Boks line up

1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Lodewyk de Jager
6. Francois Louw,  8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Schalk Burger
9. Fourie du Preez (captain), 10. Handré Pollard
11. Bryan Habana, 12. Damian De Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. JP Pietersen, 15. Willie le Roux

Replacements: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Jannie du Plessis, 19. Victor Matfield, 20. Willem Alberts, 21. Ruan Pienaar, 22. Pat Lambie, 23. Jan Serfontein