Sparky

South Africa v Tonga
Date: Saturday, 22 September
Kick-off: 1300 BST
Venue: Lens
Live coverage on BBC Sport website
South Africa have made 11 changes from the side which thrashed England for their Pool A encounter with Tonga.

Lock Bakkies Botha, flankers Wickus van Heerden and Danie Rossouw, and winger JP Pietersen are the only survivors.

Bobby Skinstad continues his return from a three-year retirement by taking the captain's armband.

Tonga, who make four changes to the side that beat Samoa, will be without flanker Hale T Pole, who is banned for one match for violent conduct.

Scrum-half Sione Tu'ipulotu comes in for Enele Taufa in the only change to the back line.

Up front, Viliami Vaki, Emosi Kauhenga and Aleki Lutui replace Pole, Inoke Afeaki and Ephraim Taukafa.

Both sides go into the match having won their first two games and Skinstad cautioned the Boks against any complacency.

"They are very physical, very good on the ball, protective of their ball and big, hard tacklers," said the 31-year-old Sharks back-rower.

"They have got guys at inside centre who are the size of loose forwards and their wings are even bigger.

"It is a crash-bang side and we have really got to get in their faces and be physical, and prove that we have the physicality to play them at their own game."

Former Sale and Newcastle player Epi Taoine is the giant inside centre referred to by Skinstad and he said the Sea Eagles are in relaxed mood.

"We are going to enjoy this game. If anything the pressure is on South Africa. If you were a bookmaker you would probably put all your money on South Africa to win," he said.

"But when we came here our realistic target was to beat United States and Samoa and we have achieved that.

"Now it's a matter of enjoying the game and we are here to win, there's no doubt about that."

Tonga trail South Africa by one point in Pool A, with England four points adrift in third.

England meet Tonga in their final match on 28 September, with the top two sides from the group qualifying for the quarter-finals.



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South Africa: Pienaar; Willemse, Olivier, Julies, Pietersen; Pretorius, Januarie; Steenkamp, G Botha, Van der Linde, B Botha, Van den Berg, Van Heerden, Rossouw, Skinstad (capt).
Replacements: Smit, BJ Botha, Matfield, Smith, Habana, Steyn, Montgomery.

Tonga: Lilo; Tu'ifua, Hufanga, Taione, Vaka; Hola, Mone; Tonga'uiha, Lutui, Pulu, Hehea, Kauhenga, Vaki, Latu (capt), Maka.
Replacements: Taukafa, Filise, Afeaki, Filipine, Havea, Tupou, Havili.

donnyboy

South Africa vs Tonga final score Boks win 30-25
What a great game!
Jake White rung in the changes as soon as Tonga scored a try early in the second half. The Tongans looked out of it from the 60 min mark as the Boks scored 3 quick tries. But amazingly, they clawed their way back after both sides lost a man to the bin and the Boks losing another after the Tongans nearly scoring for killing the ball. Firstly a try to the Tongans from forward play then 3 mins later from a cross kick bomb.
The Tongans looked ranpant through their bustling runs and it took all the Boks scrambling effort to keep them out. The Tongas are definately the surprise package in this RWC. England look out!