Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and head coach Jacques Nienaber have delayed naming the Springboks’ team for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.
South Africa beat Scotland, Romania and Tonga – and lost to Ireland – in pool B before reaching this quarter-final.
“The decision to delay the team naming is without a doubt tactical,” said Erasmus.
“We have been mixing and matching for the last year and making sure that in almost every single position we have two almost equally good players.
“In some cases, we are not even sure which one is the best, so we’re keeping our options open.
“With both Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok being available, and Lukhanyo Am fully fit, we have sort of made up our minds.
“We want to see what the French team looks like, too. That also might have an influence on us.”
South Africa are the reigning Rugby World Cup champions. They have won the title three times – 1995, 2007 and 2019. France, meanwhile, remain in pursuit of a maiden Rugby World Cup title. The French have been runners-up three times – in 1987, 1999 and 2011.
“Given how France have done and the way they’ve been playing in the last few years, this will be one of the top games, and we’ll have to try to manage that,” added Erasmus.
“Winning is everything, and there are different ways of winning. Defence, scrums, line-outs, mauls and rucks will always be important, and given where we are in the competition now, things will get tighter as the pressure builds.”
