Victor Matfield has been recalled to South Africa’s match-day 23 for the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Saturday at Twickenham, though the Springboks’ starting line-up remains unchanged.
Matfield, who retired for the first time in 2013 only to renege on his decision and will do the same after this tournament, will be expected to provide lineout expertise in the final quarter. Heyneke Meyer, the South Africa coach, hopes that the strength of his pack will overcome New Zealand’s ball-handling, which was immaculate in the quarter-final demolition of France.
Despite the bruising nature of the victory over Wales, Meyer, who is great friends with Steve Hansen, the New Zealand coach, can call upon Bismarck du Plessis, the hooker, who suffered a gash in his hand from a stud. Lood de Jager, the lock, injured a tendon in his foot in the same game and will have a fitness test later this week.
“It’s great to be able to give another run to the team that got us through to the semi-finals in the biggest test of the year,” Meyer said.
“Victor’s inclusion on the bench gives us even more experience there and, as we saw last weekend against Wales, when the replacements did very well towards the end of the match, this will be crucial. His influence will also be pivotal against a strong New Zealand lineout.”
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Handrè Pollard, who was replaced late on against Wales by Patrick Lambie, is at fly half outside the evergreen Fourie du Preez, whose try, made by Duane Vermeulen, broke Welsh hearts. They, along with centres Jessie Kriel and Damien de Allende, are tasked with providing ammunition for Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen against an All Blacks team that have lost three of their last 52 games - although one of those defeats came against the Springboks at Ellis Park in 2014.
“This is probably the best team ever to play the game,” Meyer said. “There’s usually a decline after a World Cup but they’ve got better. We need our best performance ever to beat them but you have to believe you can beat them.
“I love playing the All Blacks and it’s probably the easiest game for me as a coach - I don’t have to motivate them.
“I live for these games and I can’t wait to go.”
South Africa XV: 1 T Mtawarira, 2 B du Plessis, 3 F Malherbe, 4 E Etzebeth, 5 L de Jager, 6 F Louw, 7 S Burger, 8 D Vermeulen, 9 F du Preez (capt), 10 H Pollard, 11 B Habana, 12 D de Allende, 13 J Kriel, 14 JP Pietersen, 15 W le Roux.
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Replacements: A Strauss, T Nyakane, J du Plessis, V Matfield, W Alberts, R Pienaar, P Lambie, J Serfontein.