Head coach Jacques Nienaber is forced into a late change as prop Vincent Koch drops out of the South Africa starting XV through injury to be replaced by Trevor Nyakane (pictured), with Frans Malherbe coming on to the bench to face Romania in Pool B at Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday, 17 September.

1 Ox Nche
2 Mbongeni Mbonambi (c) 
18 Trevor Nyakane 
4 Jean Kleyn 
5 Marvin Orie 
6 Marco van Staden 
7 Kwagga Smith 
8 Duane Vermeulen 
9 Cobus Reinach 
10 Damian Willemse 
11 Makazole Mapimpi
12 Andre Esterhuizen
13 Canan Moodie
14 Grant Williams
15 Willie Le Roux 

Replacements

16 Deon Fourie
17 Steven Kitshoff
TBC Frans Malherbe
19 RG Snyman
20 Jasper Wiese
21 Jaden Hendrikse
22 Faf de Klerk
23 Jesse Kriel 

South Africa made one change prior to kick-off: Trevor Nyakane in for Vincent Koch.

  • Head coach Jacques Nienaber has made 14 changes to his starting XV following their 18-3 victory against Scotland. Damian Willemse is the only player to keep his place, although the Stormers utility back is named at fly-half instead of full-back.

  • Makazole Mapimpi will start on the wing for the 39th time in his Springbok career, which will place him joint-fifth for most test starts in the position along with Pieter Rossouw.

  • Vincent Koch will make his first start for the Springboks since the pool match against Canada at RWC 2019 in a new-look pack. Since that match, the tight-head has played off the bench in 28 tests.

  • Cobus Reinach and Willemse start together as the half-back combination for the first time at this level, with Canan Moodie playing outside-centre for only the second time in his test career.

  • Moodie and midfield partner Andre Esterhuizen are set to make their Rugby World Cup debuts, as is second-row Marvin Orie, who packs down with Jean Kleyn in the absence of Eben Etzebeth.

  • Dean Fourie, normally a back-row, provides cover for Bongi Mbonambi at hooker and will make his Rugby World Cup bow alongside fellow replacement Jaden Hendrikse, if the pair come off the bench. Fourie, who played hooker for South Africa U19s, became the oldest test debutant in Springbok history in a 13-12 defeat by Wales in July 2022, three months shy of his 36th birthday.