South Africa provided a big surprise on Friday by naming Cobus Reinach to start at scrum-half ahead of regular Faf de Klerk in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France, while Manie Libbok keeps his place at fly-half.

The Springboks have also gone with veteran Duane Vermeulen at No 8 for Sunday’s game against the hosts at Stade de France. Jasper Wiese started in the big pool game against Ireland but doesn’t make the match-day 23.

De Klerk and back-up fly-half Handre Pollard are among three backs on the bench as the defending champion go with a traditional 5-3 split in the reserves.

France won the last meeting between the two in November, their first victory over the Springboks since 2009.

South Africa XV: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux.

The Springboks got their title defence off to a winning start, beating Scotland 18-3 in Marseille. And they followed that up by crushing Romania 76-0 in their second game, with scrum-half Reinach scoring a hat-trick inside 25 minutes – the second-quickest in World Cup history.

This impressive start hit a speed bump as they were defeated 13-8 by World Cup favourites Ireland in a ferocious encounter. The Boks did, however, bounce back against Tonga with a 49-18 victory.

Sunday, Oct 15 (QF4) – France v South Africa, Stade de France, 8pm

Saturday, October 21: England/Fiji v France/South Africa, Stade de France – 8pm

Stade de France – 8pm

ITV have exclusive broadcast rights to show the Rugby World Cup in the UK. All South Africa’s games will be broadcast on ITV1

The radio commentary of every match is available on the BBC, across Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds service. 

In South Africa, the tournament is being broadcast on SuperSport.