The Latest: Springboks change 13 for Namibia
TOKYO (AP) — The latest from Day 6 of the Rugby World Cup (all times local):
2:45 p.m.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has changed all but two of his starting team for the Springboks’ second game against Namibia.
Erasmus retained only center Lukhanyo Am and wing Makazole Mapimpi from the Springboks’ XV that lost to New Zealand 23-13.
In a surprise move, Erasmus selected Schalk Brits, normally a hooker, at No. 8. Brits will also captain the team on Saturday with regular skipper Siya Kolisi on the bench.
As well as an entirely fresh pack, South Africa will have Herschel Jantjies and Elton Jantjies — no relation — starting at scrumhalf and flyhalf, and veteran Frans Steyn, a survivor of the Boks’ 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph, at inside center.
The Springboks have experience on the bench for a game they’re expected to win and must win to stay on course for the quarterfinals.
Forwards Kolisi, Steven Kitshoff, Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert, and backs Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe are among the reserves. They all started against the All Blacks.
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South Africa: Warrick Gelant, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Frans Steyn, Makazole Mapimpi, Elton Jantjies, Herchel Jantjies; Schalk Brits (captain), Kwagga Smith, Francois Louw, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Cobus Reinach, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe
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1:30 p.m.
United States head coach Gary Gold rates his team as “severe underdogs” for the game against England in Kobe on Thursday.
Like other coaches of Tier Two nations at the tournament in Japan, Gold stresses the so-called smaller teams just don’t get enough games against the big nations to help them in their quest to improve.
The Eagles last played a top team late last year when they lost to Ireland 57-14 in Dublin. But earlier in 2018, the U.S. beat Scotland by a point in Houston. Those two are the U.S.’ only games against top tier opposition in the last two years.
The U.S., like other lesser-ranked teams at the World Cup, can draw inspiration from Japan’s “Miracle of Brighton” at the last World Cup, when the Japanese upset two-time world champion South Africa.
Gold says expectations of an upset in Kobe are low but “the England players, it’ll go through their mind. Maybe not very long, but it’ll go through their mind. What if? What if? What if?”
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10:30 p.m.
Fiji beat Uruguay 68-7 last November in England and is expected to win well in their Rugby World Cup match on Wednesday in Kamaishi.
Fiji made 12 changes after losing to Australia 39-21 last Saturday, but even with a four-day turnaround the Fijians should be too strong.
Uruguay gets its campaign underway six days into the tournament with an entirely domestic-based team, and the youngest in the tournament.
The Teros have two wins in World Cup history, the last 16 years ago.
It is the only match on Wednesday, and both teams will honor the first World Cup game at Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in the small fishing town where more than 1,000 were killed by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
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