The two-time champion South Africa will have to beat the United States in order to get into World Cup quarter-finals.
The USA Eagles face their most deadliest test yet in their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign so far, as they take on the fearsome South Africa at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Newcastle on Wednesday.
South Africa had a disastrous start against Japan by losing 32-34 in Brighton. But, they bounced back strongly with 80 points and scoring nine tries in dramatic victories over Samoa (46-6) and last weekend’s defeat of Scotland (34-16).
A bonus-point victory at Newcastle would see the Springboks top of the Pool B. Heyneke Meyer’s side have to group up with yet another victory over the USA, confirming a last-eight meet with Australia or Wales.
“We believe if we are going to get to the next stage, we are going to have to improve. USA may not be ranked in the top 10, but we’ve already seen that their physicality and intensity and their approach doesn’t make it easy to play against them,” said head coach Heyneke Meyer.
The Springboks, who are very much confident at this Rugby World Cup 2015, are the favourites to claim the title. But they have only had four days to recover from their victory at the Olympic Stadium.
South Africa climbed up one spot in World Rugby’s official rankings and they are now fourth on the rankings, one spot ahead of Ireland.
South Africa: Willie Le Roux, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Hollande, Lwazi Mvovo, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (captain); Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lodewyk De Jager, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen