Japan coach Eddie Jones is confident that his side can secure an iconic win against the Springboks on Saturday.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus had high hopes for the team’s five-week tour to the UK and Europe as he departed for London with a small group of players and management on Sunday ahead of next weekend’s opening Test against Japan.
The Springboks will start the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour with a historic Test against Japan at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 1 November.
At the age of 22, life was good for Lerato Makua. In 2023, she had established herself in the Springbok Women squad, playing in 10 Tests and two friendlies and representing South Africa in Wales, England, Japan, New Zealand and Madagascar, and later France.
It was a hot and humid night in Kumagaya when Ayanda Malinga last faced Japan, but the memory of that special Test 26 months ago still fuels the Springbok Women winger.
Ayanda Malinga will make a return to Test rugby for the first time since 2022 after being named on the left wing for the Springbok Women’s opening match of WXV 2 against Japan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
Argentina are set to play Wales in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after they beat Japan 39-27 in a thrilling encounter in Nantes on Sunday.
Japan put on a dominant performance to defeat Chile 42-12 in their opening Rugby World Cup clash at the Stadium de Toulouse on Sunday.
Germany salvaged a 1-1 draw in a mouth-watering clash against Spain, while Belgium suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco on Sunday.
Japan came from behind to secure a shock 2-1 win over Germany while Spain ran riot over Costa Rica after hammering them 7-0 in their World Cup opener on Wednesday.