South Africa vs Japan Preview & Prediction | 2025 End-Of Year Internationals
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Rugby Championship winners and reigning world champions South Africa take on Eddie Jones’ Japan at Wembley Stadium.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – FloRugby
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – FloSports app
South Africa team news
Squad: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok
Japan team news
Squad: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Lee Seung-sin, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Kenji Sato, 1 Kenta Kobayashi
Replacements: 16 Shodai Hirao, 17 Ryosuke Iwaihara, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Tyler Paul, 20 Faulua Makisi, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Sam Greene, 23 Tiennan Costley
South Africa vs Japan prediction
South Africa return to action for the first time since winning the 2025 Rugby Championship in dramatic fashion, clinching back-to-back titles for the first time in their history in the process.
With tougher tests to come in the Autumn Nations Series over the next few weeks, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has chosen to select an experimental side for the visit of Japan, including plenty of players who ply their club trade in Japan.
Japan come into this match battle-hardened following a narrow 19-15 defeat to Australia last weekend, and head coach Eddie Jones would love to see his enterprising side push another top nation close.
Pacific Nations Cup finalists recently, Japan certainly boast some exciting talent and will not fear the world champions, but the reality is that even a weakened South Africa should still have far too much for the Brave Blossoms.
South Africa vs Japan tip: South Africa to win with -33.5 handicap
