Tuesday 8 November 2016 10:04, UK
Will Greenwood believes it will be a major upset if England do not beat South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.
England have not beaten the Springboks since 2006 but have won 10 games in a row - nine under Eddie Jones and their last World Cup pool game against Uruguay.
South Africa have lost four out of their last five games and seem to have lost their direction as they look to re-build under Allister Coetzee, and Greenwood feels they are there for the taking.
"They [South Africa] have a good record against England so you can't underestimate them, but having said that it will be a major upset and a huge disappointment if England don't win," said Greenwood.
"England will start red-hot favourites. They have some injury problems with Maro Itoje and George Kruis out injured and James Haskell still out with his toe injury, but it is a really good time to be an England fan, because you have plenty of options."
Greenwood says those options will be crucial for Jones to get right, especially in the second row and uses Ireland's historic win over New Zealand to show how important the lock pairing will be.
"Ireland were magnificent in Chicago and a lot of that was started at the lineout," explained Greenwood.
"New Zealand went into that game missing their starting second rowers - Luke Romano, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. Ireland swarmed all over them, nicked their ball and New Zealand could just not get any possession.
"Joe Launchbury will definitely start in the second row - he has been going fantastically well for Wasps. It is who goes with him that will be interesting - Dave Attwood is right up there and playing very well for Bath. Courtney Lawes has been our go to enforcer but it all depends on whether Eddie feels that he has had enough game time.
"What we do know about Jones though, is that he is confident enough to watch training and tell whether a player is ready or not - whether they have had four minutes or 15 games on the trot.
"Owen Farrell has not had that much game time but he will come straight back in - I imagine it will be the Ford, Farrell and Joseph combination.
"A lot of units will come back together - Vunipola and Robshaw at 6 and 8 - who fills the No 7 jersey though? Will it be Tom Wood or Teimana Harrison?"
Greenwood got up close and personal with the Springboks during their 31-31 draw against the Barbarians. The 2003 World Cup winner was part of the Baa-Baas coaching team and was their waterboy at Wembley as well.
"The Boks have some talent - they really have got some power and they are huge, huge men.
"This kid Rohan Janse van Rensburg who played in the centre against the Barbarians is 5ft 10in and over 17 stone. How can you be 5ft 10in, 17 stone and run like a train? He's like a warthog!
"Their raw ingredients are exceptional and as an incredibly proud rugby nation they did not play fantastically well - they coughed up a lot of ball which gave us the chance to counter attack. But what I love about the Springboks, and I told the boys, is that they will keep on coming at you.
"However I think that England, after winning all those games are confident enough to drop players in and out whereas South Africa are still trying to find the confidence to make changes and hit the ground running."
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