Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that backs Cheslin Kolbe and Herschel Jantjies are ‘99% fit’ and will feature in the quarter-final against Japan on Sunday.

The Boks arrived in Tokyo on Monday afternoon with a fully-fit squad. Erasmus said that Kolbe, who sustained an ankle injury in the big win against Italy in Shizuoka, and Jantjies, who picked up a minor hamstring strain against Canada in Kobe, will be available for the do-or-die game against Japan.

‘Our team has already been announced internally,’ the Bok coach said. ‘They will both be in the team.

‘We will have our first full training session in preparation for Japan on Tuesday. We expect Cheslin and Herschel to come through the training session without any hassles. I’d say that they are both 99% ready.’

The temperature in Tokyo has dropped significantly since the opening game of the tournament on 20 September. It was raining in Shinjuku when the Boks arrived on Monday and the humidity was notably less oppressive.

‘We knew that there would be a day in the middle of October where the humidity would decrease,’ pointed out Erasmus. ‘While the weather will still be warm, the ball won’t be as slippery as it’s been during the pool phase.

‘We can feel the change walking around. We’re starting to put on our tracksuit tops.

‘Then again, we are used to playing on dry pitches back home. It will suit Japan, but it’s not like we aren’t used to playing in these conditions against teams like the All Blacks that like to run the ball.’

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Photo: Steve Haag Sports via Hollywoodbets