The Springboks face off against England at Twickenham on Saturday evening in what will be their first meeting since that epic 2023 RWC semi-final. Here’s everything you need to know.
There were few surprises on Thursday when Rassie Erasmus named his Springbok side to face England in the Autumn Nations Series this weekend. The only two eyebrow-raisers were Wilco Louw starting at tighthead in his first appearance since 2021, and of course, the 5-3 split on the bench.
Pieter-Step du Toit of South Africa tackling Courtney Lawes of England during the Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final match between England and South Africa (Pic – Steve Haag/Gallo Images)
It would be unfair to call the side that did duty against Scotland last week experimental, but it certainly wasn’t the matchday 23 you’d expect Erasmus to name in a World Cup knockout game. Still, there weren’t any out-and-out outsiders who featured, which speaks volumes about South Africa’s depth at the moment.
The entire backline has been replaced with the electric combo of Grant Williams and Manie Libbok at 9 and 10. The rest of the backline picks itself. with Damian de Allende partners Jessie Kriel in midfield with Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Aphelele Fassi completing a deadly back three.
England have also made wholesale changes with Steve Borthwick reeling from a shock defeat against Australia. The defeat followed another heart-breaking loss against the All Blacks the week before, with George Ford’s unsuccessful penalty and drop goal attempts condemning them to a two-point defeat.
Freddie Steward starts at 15 and will need to call on all of his aerial prowess to negate the Boks’ threat under the high ball – especially with escort runners now being refereed differently.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Curry have been ruled out through injury. Chandler Cunningham-South starts on the blindside and Tom Curry on the openside with Ben Earl packing down at eight.
With Feyi-Waboso out, Tomy Freeman moves over to the right wing, with Ollie Sleightholme coming into the side on the left. Steward rounds out a back three that will have their work cut out for them.
Losing this weekend would mean England go into their final Autumn Nations Series Test against Eddie Jones’ Japan next week 0/3. And while you’d expect them to cruise past the Asians, the failure to bag a win over any of the Southern Hemisphere’s big three will be a bitter pill to swallow for the English.
How to watch?
It’s back to a more traditional Saturday kick-off this week following Sunday’s Test in Edinburgh. You can catch the build-up on SuperSport Grandstand (channel 201 on DStv) at 18h30 with the match to kick off at 19h30.
Betting odds at Hollywoodbets
Springboks 8.5-point favourites to beat England. It’s a handicap that many expect the World Champions to clear, and with a largely dry weather forecast for Twickenham, you’d back the Boks – on their best form – to do just that.
Check out the full match betting and the handicap spread below:
- To Win Match: England 23/10 | Draw 28/1 | South Africa 36/100
- Handicap: England (+8.5) 9/10 | South Africa (-8.5) 9/10
Twickenham
Twickenham, now known as the Allianz Stadium, needs no introduction. Regularly referred to as “the Home of Rugby” or simply “HQ”, the 82 000-seater ground is one of the great cathedrals of Rugby Union. The last time the sides met at the ground was back in 2022, with the Boks running out 27-13 winners.
Since then, however, they’ve played twice at Twickenham famously routing the All Blacks 37-7 before the 2023 World Cup and then beating Wales 41-13 in June this year.
Last meeting & head-to-head
Who can forget the last meeting between these two sides? Iceman Handre Pollard’s late penalty in the driving Paris rain secured a sensational win for the Springboks who after appeared dead and buried at 15-6 down with 11 minutes to play.
However, a 69th-minute score by RG Snayman, duly converted by Pollard brought them to within two points. Then that 78th-minute scrum penalty resulted in the Springbok fly-half nailing his penalty to hand the Boks a one-point win.
The Boks have won three of the last five meetings between the sides, one being the semi-final discussed above and another the 2019 World Cup final in Japan.
- 3 November 2018: ENG won 12-11 in London.
- 2 November 2019: SA won 32-12 in Yokohama (RWC Final).
- 20 November 2021: ENG won 27-26 in London.
- 26 November 2022: SA won 27-13 in London.
- 21 October 2023: SA won 16-15 in Saint-Denis RWC Semi-Final).
Teams
England
- 15 Freddie Steward,
- 14 Tommy Freeman,
- 13 Ollie Lawrence,
- 12 Henry Slade,
- 11 Ollie Sleightholme,
- 10 Marcus Smith,
- 9 Jack van Poortvliet,
- 8 Ben Earl,
- 7 Sam Underhill,
- 6 Chandler Cunningham-South,
- 5 George Martin,
- 4 Maro Itoje,
- 3 Will Stuart,
- 2 Jamie George,
- 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements:
- 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie,
- 17 Fin Baxter,
- 18 Dan Cole,
- 19 Nick Isiekwe,
- 20 Alex Dombrandt,
- 21 Harry Randall,
- 22 George Ford,
- 23 Tom Roebuck
South Africa
- 15 Aphelele Fassi,
- 14 Cheslin Kolbe,
- 13 Jesse Kriel,
- 12 Damian de Allende,
- 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse,
- 10 Manie Libbok,
- 9 Grant Williams,
- 8 Jasper Wiese,
- 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit,
- 6 Siya Kolisi (c),
- 5 RG Snyman,
- 4 Eben Etzebeth,
- 3 Wilco Louw,
- 2 Bongi Mbonambi,
- 1 Ox Nche
Replacements:
- 16 Malcolm Marx,
- 17 Gerhard Steenekamp,
- 18 Vincent Koch,
- 19 Elrigh Louw, 2
- 0 Kwagga Smith,
- 21 Cobus Reinach,
- 22 Handre Pollard,
- 23 Lukhanyo Am
