South Africa will be without speedy winger Cheslin Kolbe for their Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales on Sunday, after the Springboks’ number 14 failed to recover from an ankle injury.
Kolbe aggravated the injury, which he picked up against Italy, in the quarterfinal win against hosts Japan, and coach Rassie Erasmus opted for caution ahead of a potential final against New Zealand or England.
Sbu Nkosi will come into the starting XI in Kolbe’s place, in what is the only change to the XV from the team that faced Japan.
“It’s a big blow, but if you look at his last game, his ankle definitely affected his performance and we just thought a fully fit S’Busiso would be better,” Erasmus said.
Team: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Franco Mostert, 21. Francois Louw, 22. Herschel Jantjies, 23. Frans Steyn