7-1 for the final

Rasnaber has selected a high risk team for the final against the All Blacks. Not only have they gone for a 7-1 bench split but there is only one scrumhalf and one decent place kicker in the squad. If this works out Rassie will go into the rugby annals as an utter genius.

I personally think this is one game too far for the veteran Duane Vermeulen after two really hard games on previous weekends. He is a remarkable player and still outclasses every eight in SA rugby, but at this stage he is writing cheques his body cannot cash. I would have selected Wiese to start with Duane / Van Staden on the bench. At least the Boks will have two really fresh players in Jean Kleyn (the only Irish player to make a WC final) and Trevor Nyakane on the bench.

The Boks were really flat against England and the pack got dominated by the Roses for the first 55 minutes. The weather will be similar to the England game and should tone down the All Black attacking game plan.

All 23 Boks will have to give everything they have in the tank, and more importantly use the grey cells to play the most intelligent rugby they ever had. The lineout and kickoff receipt will have to be impeccable. The kicks will have to be spot on and chased with maximum intent. England had zero attacking intent – so handing the ball to Steward on a platter over and over did not have the worst effect.

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Willie le Roux