Rugby World Cup 2023 - Eyes on Defending Champs South Africa

Defending rugby World Cup champs South Africa's Springboks, will play Romania on Sunday, September 17, 2023. The Springboks are expected to rotate the team that played against Scotland in their opening game.

Namibia play New Zealand on Friday September 15.

Assistant coach Deon Davids said: "We approach every team with a lot of respect, and obviously all the players in the squad are excited to be part of the competition. If we rotate the squad or if we look differently at the squad selection for this game due to player management, obviously we'll take our performance from the past game into account."

The Springboks beat Scotland in their opening Rugby World Cup game in Marseille on Sunday September 10. Namibia, the only other African team in the tournament, was beaten 52-8 by Italy on Saturday, September 9. Namibia's next clash will be against New Zealand on Wednesday, September 20.

The Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 1995, 2007 and 2019 and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with New Zealand's All Blacks, as two of the most successful rugby teams with three Rugby World Cup titles each. Australia's Wallabies have two and England have two.

South Africans will be able to watch the Springboks in their pool matches, one quarter-final match, one semi-final match and the final match, that will be broadcast by the state broadcaster, the SABC, IOL reports.

The final will be played on Saturday, October 28.

This article originally appeared on AllAfrica.