“We’ve been fortunate to have been able to be pretty consistent in selection and we’ve built some nice momentum,” said Erasmus when announcing the team for the semi-final, which will be the third RWC encounter between the Boks and Wales.

“But the challenge just got a lot tougher on Sunday.

“Wales are the reigning Six Nations champions – as well as Grand Slam winners – and apart from three defeats in their Rugby World Cup warm-ups have put together a really good sequence of results.

“But we’ve also found some rhythm and we’ll be ready for the challenge.”

After the disappointment of 2015, when the Boks lost their semi-final by two points to eventual winners, New Zealand, Erasmus said the Boks' aim was to reach the Rugby World Cup Final in Japan.  

“We have been working hard for 18 months to put ourselves in a position to win the Rugby World Cup and that opportunity is now just 80 minutes away,” said Erasmus.

“These players have worked with unbelievable energy to get Springbok rugby back into this position and I know they will leave nothing out on the field on Sunday.

“We can feel the excitement coming from back home in South Africa and how much success will mean to our country. We know we’re playing for South Africa; that this is bigger than an 80-minute game of rugby.”