The finalists from four years ago, and the finalists from the last time that Rugby World Cup was hosted by France, meet a round earlier in 2023 when the Springboks and England clash on Saturday at 21:00 in Paris.
In total, 26 of the 43 players from the Rugby World Cup 2019 final are back for another go in Saint-Denis in 2023. Elliot Daly, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Jamie George and captain Owen Farrell starting for England then and now while Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duanne Vermeulen, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe and Siya Kolisi doing the same for the Springboks.
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has kept faith with the starting XV and bench that beat France at the same venue last Sunday.
Siya Kolisi, meanwhile, will captain the side for the 11th time in a Rugby World Cup match, equalling John Smit’s record.
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber said that England's record in Rugby World Cup semi-finals is impressive: “England went into the previous World Cup semi-final against New Zealand probably being the underdog. The reality is we’re facing a good England side. We don’t look at history but we know that where we were in 2019, any team can beat any team on the day. This game is not bigger than the game against France and it’s not bigger than the World Cup final. If you lose this game, you are out, so there is everything to gain."
For England, Joe Marler and George Martin come in at loose-head prop and second-row respectively, replacing Ellis Genge and Ollie Chessum, who drop to the bench. Freddie Steward is recalled at full-back in place of Marcus Smith.
England head coach Steve Borthwick said they believe they can win despite the opposition: "We concentrate very much on us. It's what we've done every single week. I think that's the single thing. This team has progressed. There is always belief that is strong in this team. There are players that have performed at the very highest levels. They can't wait for this, epitomised by this man next to me [Owen Farrell]."
Teams:
Springboks: 1 Steven Kitshoff, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Manie Libbok, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15 Damian Willemse. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Willie Le Roux.
England: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl, 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Elliot Daly, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 13 Joe Marchant, 14 Jonny May, 15 Freddie Steward. Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Danny Care, 22 George Ford, 23 Ollie Lawrence.
