South Africa will want to seal their place in the quarterfinals when they play USA in a Pool B match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Wednesday.
The Springboks have recovered well from that shattering loss to Japan, even if they have had to deal with another big blow, after their captain Jean De Villiers was ruled out of the World Cup.
A big win against the US will be enough for South Africa to confirm their place in the quarterfinals as group winners.
"The highs and lows of the last two weeks have probably been the most vast and intense that I have ever experienced in my professional career," Bryan Habana, who is three tires away from equalling the legendary Jonah Lomu's mark of 15 World Cup tries, told the Rugby World Cup's official website.
"When you go through what we went through with the loss against Japan and the criticism that followed, then to bounce back the following week against Samoa only to also lose to injury your captain and a mate I've become really close to.
"It's something really special, something you don't achieve in an individual sport, that feeling that you have for the brother next to you. To bounce back, senior players have played a major role in their calmness, in their composure and in their understanding that we can do it. That belief didn't disappear with the Japan defeat."
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer also realises the difficult path that South Africa have been forced to take following that defeat to Japan, and the last thing he wants is to see his team stumble another time at this Rugby World Cup, which was made clear by the strong team selected for this match against the USA Wednesday.
"Wednesday's match against a much-improved USA team is a must-win for us if we want to progress to the quarterfinals which is one of the reasons why we decided to go with continuity," Meyer said.
"We also have a number of players who returned to action from injuries recently and it's important to give them game-time against an opponent who will physically challenge us this week.
"The performances against Samoa and Scotland were satisfactory, but we will have to make another step up against the USA."
The USA, unlike South Africa, have decided to make wholesale changes to their side, which suggests they are taking their last match, against Japan, a lot more seriously than this one. Clearly, the Americans fancy their first win at this World Cup more against the Japanese than against the Springboks.
"It comes to a point in this tournament with a four-day rest where you have to use the whole squad," USA coach Mike Tolkin said. "Every team that has been in this situation has had to do the same thing. We have to use the full squad, and we're confident in this full squad."
Teams: South Africa: Willie Le Roux; Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Lwazi Mvovo; Handre Pollard, Fourie Du Preez, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw; Lodewyk De Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Frans Malherbe, Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai Mtwarira.
Replacements: Schalk Bits, Trevor Nkane, Coenie Oosuizen, Pieter Steph Du Toit, Millem Albert, Rudy Paige, Morne Steyn, Jan Serfonein.
USA: Blaine Scully; Brett Thompson, Folau Niua, Andrew Suniula, Zachary Test; Shalom Suniula, Niku Kruger; Samu Manoa, John Quill, Danny Barrett; Matt Trouville, Louis Stanfill; Chris Baumann, Phil Thiel, Olive Kilifi.
Replacements: Joe Taufetee, Zach Fenoglio, Mate Moeakioa, Titi Lamositele, Cameron Dolan, Alastair McFarland, Mike Petri, Chris Wyles.
Where to Watch Live
The 2015 Rugby World Cup Match 31 is scheduled for a 4.45 pm local time (9.15 pm IST, 11.45 am pm ET) start. Live TV coverage of the Springboks vs US in India will be on Sony Kix and Sony Six HD.
This Pool B match of this 2015 Rugby World Cup will be shown live in South Africa on SuperSport, while the live stream option is on SuperSport Live Video. Audience in the USA can watch USA play South Africa live on Universal Sports, while the action can also be live streamed on Universal Sports Online.
Viewers in Canada will be able to watch the Rugby World Cup game live on TSN1, while the action can be live streamed online on TSN TV. Viewers in the UK can watch the action live on ITV, with the live stream online option on ITV Player.
Viewers in Australia can watch South Africa vs USA live on Fox Sports, with the live stream option on Foxtel Play. Sky Sport will show the match live in New Zealand, while the action can also be watched via live streaming on Sky Go NZ.
