England v S Africa: Teams
Captain Steve Borthwick has no doubt that England will face a physical encounter when South Africa roll into Twickenham on Saturday.
Last Updated: 21/11/08 10:33am
Captain Steve Borthwick has no doubt that England will face a physical encounter when South Africa roll into Twickenham on Saturday.
The Springboks have so far failed to impress on their tour of the northern hemisphere, having only just scraped past Wales and Scotland.
And at Murrayfield, in particular, their forwards were put under intense pressure by the Scots - with Euan Murray getting stuck into the Bok front-row.
However Borthwick knows that with the likes of Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger in the pack, South Africa still have a formidable physical presence.
Borthwick said: "South Africa bring a tremendously physical scrummage. It will be formidable.
"That is what we have prepared for. We need to be very strong but also very precise."
England's hopes of dominating in the forwards will not be helped by the loss of Andrew Sheridan, who misses the game with a neck injury.
That has seen Tim Payne called in at loosehead having initially been omitted from the match-day 22.
Desire
England boss Martin Johnson has also bolstered the pack with the inclusion of James Haskell in the back-row, while Simon Shaw has been named on the bench.
South Africa arrive with an impressive record against England in recent years, including a 25-14 win at Twickenham.
But captain John Smit knows that his side will not have things their own way.
"This weekend means a lot to the guys," said Smit. "The last time we won here was with quite a young team so a lot of the guys haven't won at Twickenham and there is a lot of desire to tick that box.
"England look to play positive rugby. They've got a good pack that does the hard work and I think when they start establishing some momentum their role players - nine, 10 and 11 - will flourish."
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made two changes for the clash with Jannie du Plessis and Danie Rossouw recalled.
Prop Du Plessis has come straight into the front row in place of brother Bismarck, meaning Smit moves back to hooker, while Rossouw will start at flanker in place of Juan Smith.
Winger Bryan Habana had been a doubt for the clash but the former IRB player of the year has been declared fit to play.
England: 15 D Armitage (London Irish), 14 P Sackey (Wasps), 13 J Noon (Newcastle), 12 R Flutey (Wasps), 11 U Monye (Harlequins), 10 D Cipriani (Wasps), 9 D Care (Harlequins), 1 T Payne (Wasps), 2 L Mears (Bath), 3 P Vickery (Wasps), 4 S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), 5 T Palmer (Wasps), 6 J Haskell (Wasps), 7 T Rees (Wasps), 8 N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: 16 D Hartley (Northampton), 17 M Stevens (Bath), 18 S Shaw (Wasps), 19 T Croft (Leicester), 20 J Crane (Leicester), 21 H Ellis (Leicester), 22 T Flood (Leicester).
South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 1 Beast Mtawarira, 2 John Smit (capt), 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Bakkies Botha, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Schalk Burger, 7 Danie Rossouw, 8 Pierre Spies.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Heinrich Brussow, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Jaque Fourie.