England v South Africa: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live

Courtney Lawes, Bryan Habana and Ugo Monye – just the 250 Test caps between them – are chewing the fat over England’s rush defence.

Australia found too many holes in the midfield last week and the edge too frequently. They have to be tighter today.

Aphelele Fassi is fielding a lot of high balls in the warm-up.

His battle with Freddie Steward for control of the skies could be decisive.

Ugo Monye is backing England’s full-back to come good and argues that his inclusion improve’s the team’s attack and defence.

It’s no Bomb Squad, as Erasmus has selected a bench with the standard five forwards and three backs, but it’s still a 23 that can go nuclear.

Siya Kolisi returns to skipper the side alongside a glut of superstar names who were rested for the win over Scotland.

Cheslin Kolbe on the wing, Pieter-Steph du Toit in the back row, Manie Libbok running the show at 10.

It’s an impressive cohort and England will need to be at their best to beat these Bokke.

South Africa: Fassi; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Libbok, Williams; Nche, Mbonambi, W Louw, Etzebeth, Snyman, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.

Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, E Louw, Smith, Reinach, Pollard, Am.

Four changes from the side that lost in the dying seconds a week ago.

Freddie Steward returns from the cold to marshal the backfield, perhaps a sign of England’s intent to kick the leather off the ball.

Entrusted with those box-kicking duties will be Jack van Poortvliet as Ben Spencer drops out of the 23 entirely.

Sam Underhill comes in for for Tom Curry, who is recovering from a concussion. Northampton’s try-machine Ollie Sleightholme wins his first start.

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; M Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Cole, Isiekwe, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Roebuck.

South Africa have been on the charm offensive this Autumn.

Rassie Erasmus told Gerard Meager that his “Springboks aren’t the bad guys” of world rugby.

But, before their comofrtable win over Scotland, Michael Aylwin wasn’t buying it.

But who needs a strategy to win hearts and minds when you have the most likable prop in your ranks. I said back in October that Ox Nche should at least get a look in for World Rugby’s player of the year award. Gerard agrees with me.

“Good luck South Africa!”

Says Ruth Edwards, proudly of Welsh stock. Guess the anybody-but-England mantra still resonates.

All signs point to a blowout by the Boks. The double World Cup champions saunter into south-west London having claimed the Rugby Championship earlier in the year and a week after spanking Scotland by 17 points without leaving second gear.

England, by contrast, have developed a knack of losing tight games with six of their last eight fixtures going the way of the opposition. Steve Borthwick says he’s not under pressure, but he unquestionably is. A drubbing, as most expect, will compound matters.

But funny things happen when these teams meet each other. At the World Cup last year, England played a near perfect game and almost pulled off an almighty upset. Four years earlier, South Africa defied the bookies to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

The point is that form goes out the window and the ‘favourites’ tag can weigh heavy in these titanic encounters rich with history and dripping with narrative.

Ignore conventional wisdom, throw logic out this window. This is a Test between two proud nations at one of the sport’s grandest arenas. Epic is a word used often. It’s appropriate here.

Kick-off at 5:40pm.

Teams and more updates to follow.