Full-strength Boks ready for USA
Heyneke Meyer takes no chances and makes just two changes ahead of final pool game.
Springboks determined to step it up after ‘satisfactory’ performances so far.
S outh Africa coach Heyneke Meyer stuck with the bulk of his side for their final World Cup Pool B match against the United States at London’s Olympic Stadium tomorrow.
Meyer made just two injury-enforced changes to the team that beat Scotland 34-16 in Newcastle last weekend.
Lwazi Mvovo takes over from JP Pietersen, with Bryan Habana moving across to the right wing.
In the pack, prop Frans Malherbe replaces Jannie du Plessis. Pietersen and Du Plessis have knee injuries.
Lock Victor Matfield remains sidelined with a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Scotland game.
Replacement scrum-half Rudy Paige could make his Springbok and World Cup debut if he comes off the bench.
The 1995 and 2007 World Champions have bounced back from their shock 34-32 loss to Japan in their opening group game with wins over Samoa (46-6) and Scotland.
The Springboks now top their group and are on course for a quarterfinal with the losers of this weekend’s Pool A match between Australia and Wales.
South Africa will be up against a much-changed US side but Meyer said he was taking nothing for granted.
“Wednesday’s (tomorrow’s) match against a much-improved USA team is a must-win for us if we want to progress to the quarterfinals, which is one of the reasons why we decided to go with continuity,” Meyer said yesterday.
“We also have a number of players who returned to action from injuries recently and it’s important to give them game-time against an opponent who will physically challenge us.”
Meyer added: “The performances against Samoa and Scotland were satisfactory, but we will have to make another step up against the USA.”