The second Rugby World Cup 2019 semifinal pits third-ranked Wales against fourth-ranked South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City on Sunday, 27 October. Kickoff is at 18:00 local (05:00 ET). In the U.S, the match may be viewed on NBCSN or on-demand on NBC Sports Gold and in Canada on TSN 1 and 4.
Wales
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes in his starters with two due to injuries. Leigh Halfpenny replaced Liam Williams, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup with an ankle injury. Halfpenny will earn his 85th cap.
Ross Moriarty starts following Josh Navidi’s tournament-ending injury. Jonathan Davies was deemed to be fit and slots in at outside center with Owen Watkin moving to the reserves.
Warren Gatland’s dream is to bow out of his tenure as head coach of Wales by beating his native New Zealand to lift the World Cup. Gatland has never coached a team to victory against the All Blacks but is relishing the prospect of returning to his native land as a World Cup-winning coach.
South Africa
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made one change to the Bok team for RWC semi-final against Wales. Sbu Nkosi replaces injured Cheslin Kolbe at right-wing.
Handré Pollard feels that the match will be decided by the boot and he must be on top form as Leigh Halfpenny is a very accurate kicker.
Squads
Wales: 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (capt.), 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ross Moriarty, 9 Gareth Davies, 10 Dan Biggar, 11 Josh Adams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Jonathan Davies 14 George North, 15 Leigh Halfpenny 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhys Carré, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Adam Beard, 20 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Owen Watkin
South Africa: 1. Tendai Mtawarira 2. Bongi Mbonambi 3. Frans Malherbe 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Lood de Jager 6. Siya Kolisi (capt) 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit 8. Duane Vermeulen 9. Faf de Klerk 10. Handré Pollard 11. Makazole Mapimpi 12. Damian de Allende 13. Lukhanyo Am 14. Sbu Nkosi 15. Willie le Roux 16. Malcolm Marx 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Vincent Koch 19. RG Snyman 20. Franco Mostert 21. Francois Louw 22. Herschel Jantjies 23. Frans Steyn
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Assistants Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
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