South Africa vs Japan: What time does it start and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Pool B fixture at the Brighton Community Stadium
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Pat Lambie: The fly-half role among the Springboks is far more uncertain in 2015 than possibly the previous three World Cups, and it’s Lambie who gets the early run out against a much inferior Japan side.
If he can demonstrate to head coach Heyneke Meyer that he has the capability to get the backline firing, he could well hold onto the jersey ahead of Morne Steyn and Handre Pollard.
Teams…
South Africa: Kirchner; Habana, Kriel, De Villers, Mvovo; Lambie, Pienaar; Mtawarira, B Du Plessis, J Du Plessis; De Jager, Matfield; Louw, Alberts, Burger.
Replacements: Strauss, Nyakane, Oosthuizen, Du Toit, Kolisi, Du Preez, Pollard, Pietersen.
Japan: Goromaru; Yamada, Sau, Wing, Matsushima; Ono, Tanaka; Mikami, Horie, Hatakeyama; Thompson, Ono; Leitch, Broadhurst, Tui.
Replacements: Kizu, Inagaki, Yamashita, Makabe, Mafi, Hiwasa, Tatekawa, Hesketh.
Best stat…
0: South Africa have never faced Japan in the history of the two teams, although they have faced the Japanese head coach Eddie Jones 12 times during his reign in charge of the Wallabies.
Player to watch…
Bryan Habana: The obvious choice, yes, but there’s a reason for that as the flying wing demonstrated in 2007 with his record-equalling eight tries during the tournament. Although he may have lost half-a-yard of pace, he remains one of the most dangerous finishers in the world and the Springboks will certainly look to the right wing to rack up the points against the Far Eastern side.
Form guide…
South Africa: LLLLW
Japan: LLWWW
Vital information…
Kick-off: 4.45pm, Saturday 19 September.
TV: Live on ITV, highlights on ITV4.
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