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Springboks team for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider against Argentina in London on October, 4 2025.
Ten years ago, when South Africa lost to Japan at the Rugby World Cup in Brighton in the biggest shock the sport had ever witnessed, it was not because the Springboks fielded a weakened team.
This Saturday, the Springboks play Japan at Wembley Stadium in London, and they have selected an equally strong and even more accomplished match-day 23.
Coach, Rassie Erasmus, is not taking any chances against an Eddie Jones-coached Japan, even if double World Cup winner, Cheslin Kolbe, is starting at fullback.
The Springboks will look to nullify any pace that Japan might have on offer, and that means bringing out the speedsters, such as Ethan Hooker and Cheslin Kolbe and the return of Kurt-lee Arendse from injury. It’s a back three to rival the best in world rugby, even if Kolbe at fullback might be unfamiliar to some; it’s not that unfamiliar, according to Arendse.
“I am really excited to be back and I think as coach Rassie said now, it is not Cheslin’s first time playing at fullback I think we played against Ireland in 2022 end of year tour he was the fullback…looking forward to playing with him he is one of the best players and I am excited to be back on the field with him,” says Arendse.
The Boks’ opponents this weekend always have a surprise up their sleeve. The Springboks remember this all too well from 10 years ago in Brighton, and Australia were not too far off a similar fate last week in Tokyo, but they managed a 19-15 win in the end.
The architect of Japan’s exploits is Eddie Jones, a much-respected peer of Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, and one for whom there is a bottle of South Africa’s finest wine waiting after the match, provided Erasmus gets the win over Jones.
“Eddie is a guy that speaks his mind and I enjoy people that do those kind of things and he was one of the guys who when I got that ban who pick up the phone and phone me and support me sort of told me in so many words that don’t do stupid things but he understands why and how and I always have a lot of respect for him and I think people always try to build up a thing between coaches but he is one of the coaches I really respect and we have a bottle of wine but we only give that when we win so if he wants it he must let us win,” Erasmus explains.
Three Boks selected this weekend were in the team that lost to Japan in 2015. Siya Kolisi, captaining in his 99th test match, Jesse Kriel and Lood De Jager will all have extra motivation at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
