South Africa pick Libbok & Reinach to face France

Manie Libbok has excelled with ball in hand but struggled from the kicking tee

Venue: Stade de France, Paris Date: Sunday, 15 October Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, plus text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.

South Africa have picked Manie Libbok at fly-half to face hosts France in their World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

The reliable Handre Pollard was available as an alternative after injury and started the holders' final Pool B game against Tonga, but Libbok has been preferred for Sunday.

He will be partnered by Cobus Reinach in a surprise call at scrum-half.

France pick fit-again Dupont to start against Springboks

Reinach replaces Faf de Klerk for Sunday's match, with head coach Jacques Nienaber saying he is better suited to dealing with the French kicking game.

The number nine will face Antoine Dupont as his opposite number after the France captain's return from a fractured cheekbone.

In all, there are 11 changes from the Springbok side that beat Tonga, with Duane Vermeulen selected at number eight in place of Jasper Wiese.

Nienaber selected seven forwards on the bench for the defeat by Ireland but has opted for a 5-3 split of forwards to backs to face France.

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Eight of the Springboks' starting XV began the win over England in the World Cup final in Japan four years ago.

"Most of these players have Rugby World Cup experience and several of them were involved in the 2019 final, so they know what it takes to perform in big moments," said Nienaber.

"Twenty of these players were also in the matchday squad that played France in Marseille last season, which was a good dress rehearsal for what we can expect from France and their supporters."

Before the weekend game, hooker Bongi Mbonambi said the Boks have been training with background noise to prepare for the "hostile" atmosphere they will face at the Stade de France.

South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux.