Overview
- Coach Kevin Foote named the heavily rotated starting XV on Tuesday and the side will meet hosts Georgia on Thursday at Avchala Stadium with a 18:30 SAST kick-off.
- Foote retained only four starters from the 104-7 win over Uruguay, with lock JD Hattingh the sole forward to keep his place for a second consecutive start.
- Luan Giliomee was moved from fullback to flyhalf as a tactical experiment while Markus Muller shifts to inside centre to test new backline combinations.
- Centres Ethan Adams and wing Khuthadzo Rasivhaga were left out because of niggles and Foote intends to give almost every squad member game time so only banned flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed will not have played after the Georgia match.
- The rotation responds to a congested schedule and aims to protect players ahead of the knockout phase while facing a physical Georgian side whose set-piece strength and home crowd make this a tougher test and a chance to chase a bonus-point to top the pool.