KOBE, 6 Oct - The Springboks moved closer to a spot in the Rugby World Cup 2019 quarter-finals with their 49-3 victory over Italy, but that does not mean they will disregard Canada’s challenge on Tuesday.

Even though South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus rang the changes on Sunday for the match at Kobe Misaki Stadium, he made it clear that those selected still had a lot to play for.

Erasmus issued a challenge to new full-back Damian Willemse, who will make his World Cup debut, and wing S'Busiso Nkosi to earn a place in the starting line-up for the quarter-finals.

"The team's make-up is a bit different, but we expect the same intensity. It doesn’t help that we get a good score, but we don’t really improve in all the areas," Erasmus said.

"And one of the areas which will be vital going into the knockout stages is intensity and big moments, and the intensity at which quarter-final and semi-final rugby is being played.

"If this team doesn’t at least match that or step up, they will struggle to stay in team selection and make the team. They know that, and that will be one of the challenges."

Captain Siya Kolisi, pictured above left, is one of two regular Bok starters - the other being centre Damian de Allende - who will start against Canada. Erasmus felt that the flanker needed more game-time ahead of the knockout stages after a knee injury earlier in the year.

"Siya played a full 80 (minutes) last week (against Italy), and I thought he was wonderful. It was his best game since he’s back from injury," said Erasmus.

"I think he can play a full 80 minutes now, and his form is back to where it was. I guess to take him off the field now will just start the process all over again, as he is not really a guy that has a lot of minutes under his belt."

Canada have conceded 111 points in their two matches against Italy and New Zealand, but Erasmus – who played against them in 2000 – has been impressed by their improvement since.

"Credit to World Rugby. If you just look at Namibia, Canada, Japan – in 1995 at the World Cup in South Africa, Japan were based in Bloemfontein, where I lived, and the score was 145. In the past, even Canada, they were walkovers. 

"But if you look at the phases Canada produced against Italy, and how they botched a few tries – they could’ve scored four or five really good tries.

"Overall, what World Rugby put into the Tier 2 nations is really great, and we’ve put a lot of time into Canada because if you take your eye off them, there might be one or two little errors and they get a sniff.

"They are tough and physical – we know the type of sports they are used to. They are physical men and will give themselves a chance."

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