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Cape Town - Springbok captain Fourie du Preez has admitted that they are still under immense pressure as they prepare to face the USA in their final Rugby World Cup Pool B match at London’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday (kick-off 17:45 SA time).
The Springboks held their traditional captain’s run at the match venue on Tuesday afternoon, a mere three days after their last Test, on Saturday in Newcastle against Scotland.
Du Preez said that the team had always known about the short turn-around between their final two pool matches and had duly prepared for that, and that the match-23 will have to be ready for a tough match on Wednesday.
“After the match against Japan, we were under immense pressure, the worst I’ve ever experienced, and although the character of the team came through, we’re still under the same pressure,” said Du Preez.
“We knew we had to beat Samoa and Scotland. Now we’re facing the USA and if we don’t win, we’re on the plane home and out of the tournament.
“But we know what will work for us on the field and tomorrow we simply have to take that up a notch. There is still a lot of desperation and hope, but our only focus for now is on the encounter against the USA.”
Teams:
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Jan Serfontein.
USA
15 Blaine Scully, 14 Brett Thompson, 13 Folau Niua, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Zach Test, 10 Shalom Suniula, 9 Niku Kruger, 8 Samu Manoa (captain), 7 John Quill, 6 Danny Barrett, 5 Matthew Trouville, 4 Louis Stanfill, 3 Chris Baumann, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Oli Kilifi
Substitutes: 16 Joe Taufetee, 17 Zach Fenoglio, 18 Mate Moeakiola, 19 Titi Lamositele, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Al McFarland, 22 Mike Petri, 23 Chris Wyles
