Kolbe returns to Bok starting XV in only change for RWC final

Kolbe's return to full fitness following a niggling ankle injury sees Sbu Nkosi drop out of the team for the finale in Japan. 

Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had hinted earlier this week that he wouldn't make many changes to the team that beat Wales in the semifinal. 

The comments were met with some scepticism by the travelling English press - with one journalist going as far as asking the Springbok coach if he was 'bluffing'. 

True to his word, Erasmus made a single change for the final opting for continuity in selection, including the 6-2 split of forwards and backs on the bench - forming the Bok 'bomb squad'. 

Kolbe's timely return

The return of Kolbe is a timely boost for the Springboks considering the Blitzbok and Toulon star's dazzling performances earlier in the competition. 

Kolbe proved to be a thorn in the All Blacks side in their opening match of the tournament and continued to bamboozle defences in subsequent matches. The wing was an unused substitute in the Springboks' second match of the tournament against Namibia before returning to the starting XV for a must-win clash with Italy in week three. 

Once again Kolbe produced an outstanding performance but picked up a niggling ankle injury right at the end of the game. He then sat out of the final pool game against Canada before returning to face tournament hosts Japan in the quarterfinals.

Once again, near the end of the game against the Brave Blossoms, Kolbe exacerbated the niggle which ended up ruling him out of the semifinals. 

While he might have been fit enough to play, the Springbok management decided to rest the winger in the hopes he'd be 100 percent fit for the final if the Springboks got past Wales. As fate would have it, both came to fruition and Erasmus admitted it is a big boost for his team. 

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"What we have in Sbu also shows that we have good depth, we're quite healthy in the back three positions. But Cheslin is world class, he's showed that whenever he has played for us," Erasmus said. 

"Everybody knows he's got that x-factor and against England with the way they defend, it's something we need."

A tough road 

Injuries are part and parcel of rugby but they often rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune times. 

That has been the reality for Kolbe over the past three weeks, although he can count himself lucky that he didn't suffer the same fate as Trevor Nyakane and Jesse Kriel who's tournaments were cut short because of respective calf and hamstring injuries. 

Nevertheless, Kolbe admitted that he's had to fight some frustration during his time on the sidelines. 

"It was very frustrating, especially coming through the pool stages and then getting injured against Italy in the last seconds of the game," Kolbe explained. 

"But I've been healed and I've been training with the team for the last two weeks and I'm feeling confident and back to my old self. I'm just grateful to get another opportunity to wear the Green and Gold Jersey, especially playing in the final."

The Springboks face England in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday. Kickoff is at 11h00 South African time. 

Springbok team (15-1): Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Beast Mtawarira. 

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn.

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