South Africa have been dealt a major blow after Cheslin Kolbe was ruled out of Sunday’s semi-final against Wales due to injury.
Sbu Nkosi comes in to replace the 23-year-old winger in what is the only change to the side that beat hosts Japan last weekend.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus said on Thursday Kolbe hasn’t fully recovered from an ankle injury he sustained in the group stages against Canada.
Kolbe withdrew late on during Sunday’s 26-3 quarter-final win in Tokyo and later missed training this week.
“It’s disappointing not to have Cheslin available as he has been brilliant for us since we first called him up last year,” Erasmus said. “But we really rate Sbu and he will slot straight in. I am as excited to see what he can do as I would be if ‘Chessie’ were playing. Sbu has been very close to selection as it is.”
Nkosi has 10 test caps and will move into the right wing as a direct replacement for Kolbe.
“We’ve been fortunate to have been able to be pretty consistent in selection and we’ve built some nice momentum,” said Erasmus. “But the challenge just got a lot tougher on Sunday.”
South Africa starting XV: Willie le Roux, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn.
