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David O'Sullivan 
Emotions will be higher than usual when South Africa take on Japan on Sunday in the fourth Rugby World Cup quarterfinal of the weekend.
Rassie Erasmus and his coaching team will hit the analysis suite hard in the next two days while the players recharge their batteries after completing a 10-try rout of a brave Canada side to confirm a place in the Rugby World Cup last eight.
Siya Kolisi will lead out the Springboks for the second time in five days on Tuesday – and he’s delighted to have regained full fitness to be able to do it.
From a rugby perspective, things are going as well as expected for the Springboks as they prepare for their final Pool B match against Canada on Tuesday.
Rassie Erasmus says Springboks are in “playoff-mode”, an expression he used in the build-up to the Italy match, which saw a 49-3 victory.
The Springboks defence coach Jacques Nienaber admits to having not slept well recently as he contemplates South Africa’s Rugby World Cup Pool B clash against Italy.
Front rowers Tendai Mtawarira and Bongi Mbonambi, as well as Lood de Jager (lock) have been promoted to the Springboks’ ‘senior’ starting pack for Friday’s must-win Rugby World Cup clash with Italy in Shizuoka.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus gave a succinct summation of his team’s big 57-3 win over Namibia in their second Rugby World Cup match in Toyota on Saturday – “it wasn’t wonderful, but it was solid”.
Schalk Brits believes the best is yet to come from an evolving Springbok team, which he leads into action against Namibia.
The debate over lousy referees is over, and coach Rassie Erasmus is focused on the Springboks’ upcoming clash against Namibia on Saturday.