South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has vowed to stick with the tactics that have carried the Springboks all the way to the Rugby World Cup final.
The Boks were criticised after their 19-16 semi-final win over Wales for a gameplan based largely around kicking for territory and an over-reliance on a huge pack of forwards to stifle the life out of the match.
Cheslin Kolbe has been one of the highlights of the tournament but the winger was ruled out of the win over Wales through injury, while Makazole Mapimpi has also shown flashes of excitement on occasion.
Handre Pollard's penalty in the dying minutes was all that separated the two teams at the end of an uninspiring 80 minutes in Yokohama, with South Africa's tactics making for a less-than-spectacular spectacle for fans.
Erasmus, though, was adamant that the Springboks would not change their approach when they face England in Saturday's showpiece.
"If one understands where we are coming from, being number sixth, seventh, eighth in the world, we've got certain challenges," Erasmus said Tuesday.
"One of them was always to redeem ourselves and become a power again in world rugby and try to get to number one or two.
"To do that, you've got to have some building blocks in place and we've followed a certain route and play according to stats and the way the game is currently being refereed, and what gives you short-term results on the scoreboard."
Erasmus added: "We certainly accept that there are some things in our game we have to improve and we take it on the chin and keep on improving that.
"We accept criticism but we are also happy to be in a position to compete in the World Cup final, which is where we ultimately want to be."
Erasmus said he had a full squad to choose from for Saturday's final, with Kolbe having recovered from the ankle knock that ruled him out of the semi-final that saw Sbu Nkosi take his place on the wing.
"We'll pretty much go with more or less the same team. We believe that's the way we can get best out of the team," he said.
"It is a bit horses for courses, but we also believe it's also our most fit in-form, best available and best combination team."
___________________
South Africa beat Wales 19-16
-
South Africa's players celebrate winning the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
Wales' Leigh Halfpenny (left) is tackled by South Africa's Damian de Allende during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo -
South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi (C) celebrates with supporters after winning the Rugby World Cup 2019 semi final match between South Africa and Wales at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama City, Japan. EPA -
South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira (R) celebrates with supporters after winning the Rugby World Cup 2019 semi final match between South Africa and Wales at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama City, Japan. EPA -
Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar of Wales react as they walk off the pitch following the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan. GETTY IMAGES -
Wales' Leigh Halfpenny (left) is tackled by South Africa's Damian de Allende during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo -
Damian De Allende of South Africa (L) and Rg Snyman of South Africa celebrate the win during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. GETTY IMAGES -
Wales' lock Alun Wyn Jones (L) and South Africa's lock Franco Mostert fight for the ball in a lineout during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
Wales' lock Alun Wyn Jones (3rd L) looks at referee Jerome Garces during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
Wales' fly-half Dan Biggar reacts after losing the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Semi Final - Wales v South Africa - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan South Africa's Damian de Allende scores their first try. REUTERS -
Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Semi Final - Wales v South Africa - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Wales' Dan Biggar in action with South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit. REUTERS -
Fans wave at South Africa's players after they won the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
South Africa's Vincent Koch, left, and Faf de Klerk celebrate after the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between Wales and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan. AP -
South Africa's number 8 Duane Vermeulen holds onto the ball during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
Wales' Rhys Patchell, right, and Elliot Dee, center, hold their heads after losing to South Africa during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. AP -
Wales fans celebrate as Josh Adams scores his sides first try during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo -
Alun Wyn Jones, captain of Wales (R) questions referee Jerome Garces of France (L) with Rg Snyman of South Africa (C) during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. GETTY IMAGES -
Wales' Ken Owens appears dejected on the bench during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at International Stadium Yokohama. PA Photo -
Steven Kitshoff of South Africa helps teammate RG Snyman win a high ball under pressure from Alun Wyn Jones of Wales during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. GETTY IMAGES -
Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Semi Final - Wales v South Africa - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan - Wales' Ken Owens leaves the pitch. REUTERS -
Justin Tipuric of Wales takes the lineout ball during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. GETTY IMAGES -
South Africa's centre Damian De Allende is tackled by Wales' fly-half Dan Biggar (2nd L) during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
A fan awaits the start of the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Wales and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. AFP -
Wales' Josh Adams wipes his face after his team's loss to South Africa in their Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. AP
___________________
Erasmus insisted there were no mind games in revealing a potentially little-changed Matchday 23.
"No, no bluffing!" the former Munster coach said. "It's probably exactly the same 23, with Cheslin Kolbe being one of the guys who comes into the Matchday 23."
As for preparation and tactics, Erasmus said that the team would only train twice, for a maximum of 160 minutes.
"There's not a hell of a lot you can change in your tactics in two training sessions on a six-day turnaround. So you can expect pretty much the same from us on Saturday."
