RECAP: South Africa v Wales
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to the World Cup semifinal match between South Africa and Wales in Yokohama.
This match is business. In all knock-out matches, there is a chasm between victory and defeat.
*To read our full match report: CLICK HERE!
The bigger the competition, the bigger the chasm, and a World Cup semifinal is high up on the list of big rugby competitions – pretty near the peak on the Everest of rugby competitions.
There will be no messing about as two top teams, coached by top coaches, meet.
Prediction: It’s one thing to know that South Africa will be coming at you physically and another thing to deal with it effectively enough to dominate the game. The Springboks are big, strong and determined and they have the wings to score tries. We suggest that South Africa will win by 12 points or more.
* To read our full preview, CLICK HERE!
* Don’t miss this week’s podcast …
* Our live blog will appear below, it might take a little while to load, please be patient. We apologise for the inconvenience!
Teams
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny. 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies 12, Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Aaron Shingler, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Owen Watkin.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
