While a lot of the squad looked battered and bruised after one of the best knockout games in Rugby World Cup history, it is clear the Boks have settled on the same squad as a mark of confidence to try and carry them into the World Cup final and a chance to defend their 2019 crown.

While there may have been some consideration to bring in players such as Jasper Wiese and Andre Esterhuizen, the Boks decided against this in selecting their squad of 23.

The selection is the most experienced in Springbok history with a combined total of 895 caps and with 15 of the 23 having played against England in the 32-12 victory in the World Cup final four years ago in Japan when the Boks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time.

Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach will control play at halfback, with centres Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel returning with a back three of Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse.

Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi will pack down in the front row, with locks Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert behind them.

The loose trio consists of Bok skipper Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen.

The replacements’ bench features forwards Deon Fourie (hooker/flanker), Ox Nche and Vincent Koch (props), RG Snyman (lock), Kwagga Smith (loose forward), and three backs in Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Handré Pollard (flyhalf), and Willie le Roux (fullback).

Ahead of the encounter, Nienaber noted that eight of the team, Kolisi, Du Toit, Vermeulen, Mbonambi, Etzebeth, Malherbe, De Allende and Kolbe started against England in the 2019 final. 

Another seven players from that match squad are also in the 23 — starting forwards Mostert and Kitshoff, and replacements Le Roux, Pollard and De Klerk, and forward replacements Snyman and Koch).

But we can only select 23 and everyone in this group is aligned and understands that the country comes first," Nienaber added.

Kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris is 21:00 o'clock.