Siya Kolisi will captain a strong Springbok team in their final World Cup warm-up against tournament hosts Japan in Kumagaya on Friday.

Kolisi, who returned to Test rugby from a knee injury against Argentina last month, gets the captain’s armband back from Schalk Brits, who led the Boks in Pretoria.

Kolisi’s return in place of Kwagga Smith, who drops out of the match-day 23 entirely, is the only change to the team that drew 16-16 with the All Blacks in Wellington in the Rugby Championship.

Pieter-Steph du Toit will earn his 50th Test cap on Friday.

Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx and Frans Malherbe will form the front row, with Tendai Mtawarira, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane on the bench.

Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn and Jesse Kriel are the backline replacements.

Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel.

Photo: Andres Larrovere/AFP Photo