South Africa and England will meet a year on from playing out a classic at Twickenham in the final match of the Autumn Nations Series.
Marcus Smith’s late penalty earned England a 27-26 victory in that one as Eddie Jones’ side earned a measure of revenge over the team who had beaten them in the World Cup final.
Now, both teams are aiming to close out 2022 on a high, England coming into it off the back of their unlikely comeback draw against New Zealand, while the Springboks powered past Italy after narrow defeats to France and Ireland.
England make four changes
Eddie Jones has shuffled his pack by making four changes to the side that salvaged a 25-25 draw against New Zealand last week.
Having impressed in the crazy end to the All Blacks clash, experienced front rowers Mako Vunipola and Jamie George come into the XV with vice captain Ellis Genge and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie dropping to the bench.
Alex Coles will make his first start on the blindside flank, with his previous two caps coming in the second row, in place of Sam Simmonds who is among the replacements as Jones looks to bolster his lineout options.
There is only one change in the backline with Tommy Freeman given his first game time of the Autumn Nations Series in place of vice captain Jack Nowell on the wing.
While centre Manu Tuilagi will win his 50th cap having held off competition from Henry Slade for the No.13 jersey.
Jones said: “This is our last game of the autumn and our chance to continue building on the improvements we have made throughout the matches.
“We have made steady progress from game-to-game, culminating in a pulsating draw against New Zealand.
“Now we have the chance to test ourselves against the might of the world champions.
“We’re going out there to light the crowd up. The support at Twickenham was outstanding last week and we want to work hard on the pitch to make sure we have another atmosphere like that again on Saturday.”
South Africa change four
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has made four changes from the team that won 63-21 in Genoa, some tactical and some enforced.
The game is outside the Test window, meaning that those players based at European clubs are unavailable.
That means four changes to the starting line-up, Makazole Mapimpi replacing Cheslin Kolbe on the wing and Jesse Kriel in for Andre Esterhuizen in the centres, with Damian de Allende moving to inside centre.
The two changes up front see Eben Etzebeth restored to the starting line-up in place of Salmaan Moerat, while Evan Roos comes in for Jasper Wiese at No.8.
“With this Test falling outside the international Test window, we knew we would have to make changes to the team, but we are pleased with the depth we have built in the wider squad in the last few months, and it is paying off for us this week,” said Nienaber.
“We are very excited to see what this group of players will do against a quality England side given the mix of talented young players who have been putting up their hands and the experienced guys who have come a long way with us over the last few years.
“It doesn’t get bigger than playing against England at a packed Twickenham in the last Test of the season for a player, and one can sense the excitement among the players about this occasion.”
Teams
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Jack Nowell
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Marvin Orie, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Franco Mostert, 8 Evan Roos
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Canan Moodie
