While the selection of a 7-1 bench for the Rugby World Cup final has come at the expense of a few stalwarts of South Africa’s 2023 campaign, captain Siya Kolisi says there are no hard feelings in the Springbok camp.

Kolisi and coach Jacques Nienaber shared their insights after the Bok team announcement for the decider against New Zealand in Paris on Saturday, with regular half-backs Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok the notable omissions.

Nienaber emphasised that the seven forwards and one back on the bench was a result of careful consideration, and the chosen 23 players were selected for their ability to secure a back-to-back world cup title win, without disclosing specific strengths and weaknesses of the All Blacks.

“The team is not 15, it is 23. When you do squad selection, there are many factors to consider, from medical conditions to past performances and extensive analysis of New Zealand,” the head coach told reporters.

“The decision on the bench split evolved from 5-3 to 6-2 and finally settled at 7-1 after extensive discussions. Vincent Koch’s inability to train on Monday meant he wasn’t eligible for selection, but we’re prepared to mitigate risks. In this case, Cheslin Kolbe will be our contingency at scrum-half due to his experience in sevens.”

Nienaber added: “I’m not going to say what the strengths and weaknesses of the All Blacks are, that would be stupid. But a lot of analysis went into it and at the end we went with a squad of 23. It could have been 6-2, 5-3, it doesn’t matter.

“You select a team that you think can get a result. The 23 we selected for a reason, and the reason is we think they can deliver and win us a back-to-back world cup [trophy].

“How did the other guys take it? We explain to the whole squad why we are going a certain route. It is not about individual selection. It is for South Africa. As selectors we know there will be pressure on us if we don’t deliver a result but at the back of our minds we know this selection is for South Africa.

“The players take it like that. It is not about person or ego, not that they have egos, but you can’t think of that. You have to think about South Africa and the Springboks.”

Addressing his early substitutions in matches, skipper Kolisi added: “I get taken off at the 40th minute, and while I would love to play more, I understand that it’s about the team’s success, not just me.

“We don’t sulk over these decisions; instead, we focus on our roles as part of the larger team effort. When they pick the team, they explain it, and we all have a role to play. It’s a collective mindset – the team’s success is bigger than any individual.”