Wales v South Africa: Cheslin Kolbe ruled out of World Cup semi-final for Springboks
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Kolbe went off injured late in South Africa's quarter-final victory over hosts Japan
2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final: Wales v South Africa |
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Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama Date: Sun, 27 Oct Kick-off: 09:00 GMT |
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, plus text updates on the BBC Sport website and app. |
South Africa wing Cheslin Kolbe has been ruled out of Sunday's World Cup semi-final against Wales.
Cheslin left the field late on in the quarter-final win against hosts Japan.
The 23-year-old sat out training this week having also been ruled out of South Africa's game against Canada because of an ankle problem.
Kolbe has been replaced by Sbu Nkosi.
South Africa's 23 is otherwise the same as it was for their quarter-final win.
"It's disappointing not to have Cheslin available as he has been brilliant for us since we first called him up last year," said Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's director of rugby.
"But we really rate Sbu and he will slot straight in. I am as excited to see what he can do as I would be if 'Chessie' were playing. Sbu has been very close to selection as it is.
"We've been fortunate to have been able to be pretty consistent in selection and we've built some nice momentum, but the challenge just got a lot tougher on Sunday.
"Wales are the reigning Six Nations champions - as well as Grand Slam winners - and apart from three defeats in their World Cup warm-ups have put together a really good sequence of results.
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"But we've also found some rhythm and we'll be ready for the challenge."
Erasmus said one of the reasons he did not select Kolbe was that he hopes he will be available for the World Cup final if the Springboks beat Wales.
"He was not 100% fit and then hopefully we get to a final and then he's fully fit, and that would be great if we get to a final. So we did think about that."
South Africa have continued with their tactic of naming six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench.
Wales name their team on Friday.
South Africa: Le Roux; Nkosi, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk; Mtawarira, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Marx, Kitschoff, Koch, Snyman, Mostert, Louw, H Jantjies, Steyn.
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All pictures via Huw Evans images