The Springboks made a few bold calls regarding their team selection ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

The most notable of these is with the halfback combination as Manie Libbok will start at flyhalf, while Cobus Reinach will don the number nine jersey.

Reinach's start is not a major surprise and he is the Boks leading try-scorer at the World Cup as matters stand.

Libbok starting as the backline marshal is more of a surprise as it is knockout rugby and every point will count. The young pivot has however missed numerous kicks on goal throughout the World Cup, and this has long been a concern.

Pollard is only still returning from his injury and has only enjoyed limited game time this year.

The major concern is that the Boks will start the do-or-die Test without a reliable kicker from the tee.

Manie Libbok - Michael Steele World Rugby via Getty Images

The Springbok coach, Jacques Nienaber, said that while Pollard is an asset, Libbok is the in-form flyhalf in the squad.

“The big thing was Handre Pollard being out for 19 or 20 weeks before the World Cup. That was unfortunate. If he hadn’t got injured, we might have looked at it a bit differently and he probably would have been in the squad from the start because he’s a quality rugby player.

“With Manie, if you look at the way he drives the team, he is obviously on form. The difference in the games he has started for us at 10, I think it is like four tries to one, so we score points with Manie at 10. Manie is in form, playing good rugby. Cobus Reinach is in form, playing good rugby, so is Faf de Klerk. But just looking at what the French will bring, we feel this is the best option for us.”

Siya Kolisi - Johan Orton

A major advantage for the Springboks at the World Cup this year has been their exceptional discipline, and after the Pool games, they are the only team not to concede a single yellow or red card.

During last year’s End of Year Tour match against France in Marseille the Boks did concede a red card and this did hurt them in the 30-26 defeat.

The world champions have placed a lot of emphasis on this aspect of the game and the captain, Siya Kolisi, said they’ve needed to adapt as they are rightly not winning to sacrifice their physicality of intensity.

“Our discipline has been really good – I think we are the only team who haven’t received a yellow card in this tournament. We do play physically, we do play on the edge but we train to tackle correctly and stay onside. That is why technique is so important. But at the same time, we can’t be worried about doing something crazy. We have to live on the edge, that is what our game is as a South African team, to play as hard as we can for 80 minutes.

“People enjoy rugby because it’s brutal. We need to go forward so our wings and backs can do their thing. I think the ref will be able to manage the game and obviously if we steer clear of anything naughty, we will be alright.”

Antoine Dupont - Getty

In the French camp, the captain Antoine Dupont makes his return to the field after recovering from a fractures cheekbone he sustained against Nambiba in the Pool stages. Dupont had been training with the team throughout week and he will no doubt give the French a major boost.

The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year said he is fit and ready, both physically and mentally.

“I feel very good on both counts,” said Dupont.

“At the time, I didn't know how serious my injury was. I thought the competition was over. I had to wait for the tests, the appointment with the surgeon and the operation. My convalescence went well.

“I was able to return gradually, and I had several weeks to do all that. Today, I’m at the top of my game, physically and technically.”

Sunday’s big quarter-final at Stade de France in Paris kicks off at 21:00.

Meanwhile, on Saturday at 17:00 Wales will tackle Argentina in Marseille, while at 21:00 Ireland clash with the All Blacks in Paris. At 17:00 on Sunday, England will be in action against Fiji.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport