Boks opt for consistency, name unchanged match-day 23 to tackle England in World Cup SF

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has named an unchanged team for Saturday's Rugby World Cup semi-final against England at the Stade de France.

The Bok mentor named the exact same 23-man squad that did duty in last weekend's thrilling 29-28 win over France in the quarter-finals.

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This means Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok will remain as the starting halfback pair, with Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard expected to make an impact off the bench. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel remain in midfield, with Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse completing the back three.

Up front, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi will again pack down in the front row, with locks Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert in the second row. Skipper Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen again make up the loose trio. 

The Boks also kept a five-three forwards/backs split on the bench. The bench features forwards Deon Fourie (hooker/flanker), Ox Nche and Vincent Koch (props), RG Snyman (lock), Kwagga Smith (loose forward), and three backs in De Klerk (scrumhalf), Pollard (flyhalf), and Willie le Roux (fullback). 

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 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 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Willie le Roux

This is the most experienced Springbok team named in history - with a combined total of 895 caps. Fifteen