An injury-stricken England will look to get their November campaign off to a positive start when they take on South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.
It will be the fourth time that these teams have gone head-to-head this year after the Springboks defeated the Red Rose 2-1 in June.
South Africa were excellent over the first two games, overcoming poor starts to defeat the tourists 42-39 and 23-12, but Rassie Erasmus’ men were out-thought in the third Test, losing 25-10.
Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux and Steven Kitshoff were key to the hosts’ success, but two of those are not available for this weekend’s encounter, with the game taking place outside of the international window.
Vermeulen and Kitshoff remain, however, while they have been boosted by the return of Eben Etzebeth and Malcolm Marx, who were both excellent during the Rugby Championship campaign.
They look a formidable opponent for an England outfit that are without several key individuals, particularly up front. Loosehead has been area of strength for Eddie Jones but, following the retirement of Joe Marler and injuries to Mako Vunipola, Ellis Genge, Beno Obano and Matt Mullan, Alec Hepburn comes in.
Hepburn is a fine player and has been in excellent form for Exeter Chiefs, but international level is an altogether different proposition and he faces a tough battle against Frans Malherbe and Wilco Louw.
At number eight, Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes are out, leaving Mark Wilson, who only features there intermittently for club side Newcastle Falcons, to hold the fort.
The backline looks exciting, though, even if the selection of Ben Te’o appears a strange one. Fit and on form, the New Zealand-born centre would be an asset but, having only been on the field for 28 minutes this season, the visitors may look to target Te’o on Saturday. Alongside him, Henry Slade gets another opportunity in the midfield, meaning Owen Farrell starts over George Ford at fly-half.
Overall, it is well balanced behind the scrum but the struggle may be getting enough quick ball. They lack dynamic ball-carriers in the pack and, although Hepburn and Kyle Sinckler are exceptional in the loose, there is not the same quality in the back-five.
It was positive to see Maro Itoje breaking tackles and looking a threat in the open spaces against Lyon in the Champions Cup but, in comparison to Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Vermeulen and Warren Whiteley, they do not have the same athleticism as the Springboks.
In many respects, Jones’ men came close in June and playing at home could tilt the scales in their favour but, with injuries hampering their build-up and South Africa an improved side since the mid-year series, Erasmus’ charges have the edge.
Players to watch:
For England: There are a few interesting selections from Eddie Jones for this encounter, but the one that stands out is Ben Te’o being named at centre. The Worcester Warriors player has hardly featured for his club side this season and was decidedly rusty in the 28 minutes he was on the field during a Challenge Cup encounter. Te’o offers plenty of ballast and is the Red Rose’s only natural big, ball-carrying 12, with Jones seeing Manu Tuilagi more as a 13, but the hosts could be exposed in this area. It is certainly a big call from the Australian.
For South Africa: With Willie le Roux out, Rassie Erasmus has named exciting talent Damian Willemse at full-back. Usually a fly-half, the Stormers player is a very balanced runner with exceptional pace and will be a threat if England kick poorly from half-back. Of course, Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell could expose his lack of experience in the position by maneuvering him around in backfield, so it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the challenges on Saturday.
Head-to-head: There are a number of interesting match-ups with Brad Shields v Duane Vermeulen, Ben Youngs v Ivan van Zyl and Alec Hepburn v Frans Malherbe all potentially significant, but we’ve gone for the battle at lock between two exceptional talents. Maro Itoje looked slightly jaded in South Africa but has been in fine form so far this season for Saracens, while Eben Etzebeth returned from injury to star for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship. Therefore, the second-row who gets the better of their opponent here could lay the platform for victory in this November opener.
Previous results:
2018: England won 25-10 in Cape Town
2018: South Africa won 23-12 in Bloemfontein
2018: South Africa won 42-39 in Johannesburg
2016: England won 37-21 in London
2014: South Africa won 31-28 in London
2012: South Africa won 16-15 in London
2012: South Africa and England drew 14-14 in Port Elizabeth
2012: South Africa won 36-27 in Johannesburg
Prediction: South Africa may be without Faf de Klerk but England have so many injuries that the visitors should take it. Springboks by six.
The teams:
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ben Te’o, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell (cc), 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Brad Shields, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Dylan Hartley (cc), 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Zach Mercer, 21 Danny Care, 22 George Ford, 23 Chris Ashton
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 André Esterhuizen.
Date: Saturday, November 3
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jerome Garces (France), Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)