Robshaw backs Boks, England for 2019 RWC glory

Cape Town - Former England captain Chris Robshaw believes that it's between England and South Africa to lift the famed Webb Ellis Cup in November.

Robshaw was a part of England's 2015 Rugby World Cup squad, however he failed to make the 31-man squad for this year's tournament.

"I was down because it felt like the end," Robshaw told The Guardian.

"He (Eddie Jones) phoned me up and told me he was calling about selection. When Eddie calls you it's normally not good news. You know what's coming. But it's still never nice when he tells you you're not going to the World Cup."

Robshaw stated that although the defending champions, the All Blacks, will be in contention, the 33-year-old admitted that he liked the "look of England and South Africa".

"I think it will be between England and South Africa," said the Harlequins loose forward.

"Of course I hope England win it. It would be brilliant for the guys and amazing for the country. Seeing the buzz about the football, in both the men's and women's World Cup, and now the Ashes, you realise how sport galvanises the country like nothing else. This England side has the potential to do that."

The Boks kick off their World Cup campaign against defending champions and pre-tournament favourites New Zealand in Yokohama on September 21.

England will kick-off their campaign against Tonga on September 22.

The Springboks' final warm-up match before the Rugby World Cup begins, against Japan on Friday at 12:05 (SA time).

Teams:

Japan

15 William Tupou, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Uwe Helu, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Koo Ji-won, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki

Substitutes: 16 Takuya Kitade, 17 Isileli Nakajima, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 James Moore, 20 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Ataata Moeakiola

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel

Compiled by: Lynn Butler