Overview
- Saturday’s match at Wembley reunites the teams a decade after Japan’s 34-32 shock in Brighton, with South Africa having won both meetings since, including the 2019 World Cup quarter-final.
- Captain Siya Kolisi calls Japan “a great team” after their 19-15 loss to Australia and emphasizes physical dominance and breakdown control over trying to mirror Japan’s speed.
- Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks have learned from 2015 but are focused on Eddie Jones’s current, fast-structured Japan rather than reliving past scars.
- Centre Damian de Allende, who plays in Japan, highlights the league’s intensity and Japan’s tactical acuity, urging the Boks to impose their rhythm with composure and accuracy.
- Erasmus explains Faf de Klerk’s omission as a move to build minutes with Canon, with Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg the current scrumhalf options.