The final match in week four of the 2023 Rugby World Cup will come from Pool B, where South Africa will be looking to take a step closer to securing a place in the knockout stages when they take on Tonga on Sunday evening.
The Springboks are currently second in the group with 10 points after their first three matches, while Tonga are in fourth place and are yet to get off the mark, having lost both their matches to date.
Match preview
South Africa were handed their first defeat of the competition last week, beaten by the world number one ranked team Ireland 13-8 at Stade de France in a tightly contested battle of the heavyweights.
While the majority of the pre-game focus centred around South Africa's 'Bomb Squad' ahead of that match, it was the Boks' kicking team that ultimately fell short in the crucial encounter.
Fly-half Manie Libbok, while instrumental with ball in hand, had a very poor evening off the kicking tee, missing a conversion that would have given his side a 10-7 lead and then putting a penalty wide shortly after.
Faf de Klerk also missed two penalties in the match, albeit from a much further distance, but in the end, the world champions left a total of 11 points from the boot on the table, which ultimately led to them losing the match.
As a result, Jacques Nienaber's side are now in a bit of a dodgy situation as they need to win this match with a bonus point, and even then, if Scotland go on to beat Ireland in their final match, points difference will come into play.
Meanwhile, Tonga came into the World Cup hoping to cause a few upsets in the group of death, and while it has not happened for them so far, there is still a chance they can do it here, even if it is a slim one.
Against both Ireland and Scotland, Tonga were well in the match in the first half, but it was in the second half that both opponents managed to secure comfortable victories by pulling away.
Toutai Kefu's side have shown moments of brilliance, but they are one of the worst-performing teams in the competition, having conceded a total of 104 points and allowing the opposition to score 15 tries.
Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles, their journey is unlikely to get much easier here as they prepare to take on a Springbok team that will be looking for a merciless performance as they try to pile on as many points as possible in their last match of the group stages.
South Africa Rugby World Cup form:
- W
- W
- L
South Africa form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
Tonga Rugby World Cup form:
- L
- L
Tonga form (all competitions):
- L
- L
- W
- W
- L
- L
Team News
The big news for the Springboks this week was the announcement that Handre Pollard would be making his first appearance in the green and gold since August 2022 in place of Libbok.
Aside from the addition of Pollard, Nienaber has made 11 other changes to the side that played Ireland last week, with only Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Jasper Wiese retaining their places in the starting lineup.
Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi both scored hat-tricks in their demolition of Romania and are recalled to the starting lineup, while Grant Williams received the nod at right wing.
As for Tonga, Vaea Fifita was shown a red card against Scotland and will start his four-game ban here, which sees Semisi Paea come into the starting 15 as his replacement.
Kefu has also opted for two new wingers in Anzelo Tuitavuki and Fine Inisi, with Pita Ahki and Malakai Fekitoa making up the midfield pairing.
South Africa starting lineup: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Grant Williams, 13. Canan Moodie, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Duane Vermeulen, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Vincent Koch, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Ox Nche
Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Franco Mostert, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Jesse Kriel, 23. Manie Libbok
Tonga starting lineup: 15. Salesi Piutau, 14. Fine Inisi, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10. William Havili, 9. Augustine Pulu, 8. Semisi Paea, 7. Sione Talitui, 6. Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5. Sam Lousi, 4. Halaleva Fifita, 3. Ben Tameifuna (c), 2. Paula Ngauamo, 1. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
Replacements: 16. Sam Moli, 17. Tau Koloamatangi, 18. Sosefo Apikotoa, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Sione Vailanu, 21. Sonatane Takulua, 22. Patrick Pellegrini, 23. Afusipa Taumoepeau
Head To Head
These sides have met twice in the past, and South Africa have won on both occasions.
We say: South Africa 52-13 Tonga
Having lost last week to Ireland, South Africa cannot afford to leave anything to chance in this match. We expect the world champions to put on a ruthless display in this one and fancy they will win the match by around 50 points.
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