Springboks face England at Twickenham this Saturday as England aims to end their losing streak and the Springboks look to keep winning

Twickenham is bracing for a fierce encounter as South Africa’s Springboks prepare to face England on Saturday, with head coach Rassie Erasmus expected to bring back his star players. After a decisive 32-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield, where Erasmus made 11 changes to his squad, the Springboks look set to fortify their lineup for a match that promises to test both sides. The world champions will confront an English team determined to reverse a disappointing run, having suffered consecutive defeats to New Zealand and Australia.

For England head coach Steve Borthwick, the stakes could not be higher. Reeling from those two recent losses against Southern Hemisphere rivals, Borthwick’s side is under pressure to turn things around in front of a home crowd. Meanwhile, South Africa, fresh off last year’s World Cup semi-final victory over England, is eyeing another win to extend their unbeaten run on this tour.

Erasmus acknowledged the intensity England would bring to the field, especially considering their recent struggles. “England will be a different challenge as we will be facing a desperate team that comes off two losses in matches they could have won,” he noted. The Springboks’ head coach rested several key players against Scotland to test a mix of fresh talent, but fans can expect a more familiar lineup at Twickenham. Centre pairing Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, who missed the Scotland game, is likely to return, adding a familiar attacking threat.

Cheslin Kolbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, More Springboks Likely In Action

Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, two of South Africa’s dynamic wingers, alongside in-form fullback Aphelele Fassi, also sat out the Scotland clash. Loose forwards Pieter-Steph du Toit, captain Siya Kolisi, and Jasper Wiese were benched but are all candidates for the starting squad this weekend.

Much of the attention will be focused on who Erasmus selects in the critical flyhalf and fullback roles, with veteran Handre Pollard and experienced playmaker Willie le Roux both likely contenders. Pollard excelled against Scotland, and Le Roux’s seasoned presence brought depth to the Springbok attack.

Despite the scoreboard reflecting a strong win over Scotland, Erasmus has called for sharper play against England. “It was certainly not a performance we were proud of. The scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story,” he remarked, highlighting areas for improvement ahead of the Twickenham showdown.

Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth echoed these sentiments, noting that while the win was welcome, the team has higher standards to uphold. “We want to keep on performing. At the end of the day, it was a good win to beat them by that margin,” Etzebeth said. “But there will be some harsh words and also some good words. You need that in a professional team environment.”

Autumn Nations Rugby Fixtures 2024

Saturday, Nov. 2

• England vs. New Zealand – 11:10 a.m. ET
• Scotland vs. Fiji – 1:40 p.m. ET

Friday, Nov. 8

• Ireland vs. New Zealand – 3:10 p.m. ET

Saturday, Nov. 9

• England vs. Australia – 10:10 a.m. ET
• Italy vs. Argentina – 12:40 p.m. ET
• France vs. Japan – 3:10 p.m. ET

Sunday, Nov. 10

• Wales vs. Fiji – 8:40 a.m. ET
• Scotland vs. South Africa – 1:10 p.m. ET

Friday, Nov. 15

• Ireland vs. Argentina – 3:10 p.m. ET

Saturday, Nov. 16

• Scotland vs. Portugal – 10:10 a.m. ET
• England vs. South Africa – 1:40 p.m. ET
• France vs. New Zealand – 3:10 p.m. ET

Sunday, Nov. 17

• Italy vs. Georgia – 8:40 a.m. ET
  Wales vs. Australia – 1:10 p.m. ET

Friday, Nov. 22

• France vs. Argentina – 3:10 p.m. ET

Saturday, Nov. 23

• Ireland vs. Fiji – 10:10 a.m. ET
  Wales vs. South Africa – 1:40 p.m. ET
  Italy vs. New Zealand – 3:10 p.m. ET

Sunday, Nov. 24

• Scotland vs. Australia – 8:40 a.m. ET
  England vs. Japan – 11:10 a.m. ET

Saturday, Nov. 30

• Ireland vs. Australia – 10:10 a.m. ET