Boks v England Rugby

Eben Etzebeth and Maro Itoje. Photo by Odd Andersen and William West/AFP

HEAD TO HEAD: Key Boks v England player match-ups

As the Boks prepare to tackle England on Saturday, here are three individual match-ups that you should look out for at Twickenham.

Boks v England Rugby

Eben Etzebeth and Maro Itoje. Photo by Odd Andersen and William West/AFP

Saturday’s match between the Boks and England will kick off at 17:15 (SA time) and you can follow ALL the action LIVE on The South African website.

LIVE | SPRINGBOKS V ENGLAND: SCORES, COMMENTARY AND PRE-TEST BUILD-UP

Damian de Allende v Manu Tuilagi

In terms of bruising midfield matches, they don’t really get any bigger or better than this.

Both De Allende and Tuilagi will both be looking to impose their physicality on proceedings, and it’s likely that each team will use their powerful centres at first receiver on certain occasions in order to generate gainline dominance.

De Allende has been one of the Boks’ unsung heroes throughout this year, and will head into Saturday’s Test in top form, with his work on defence, at the breakdown and as a ball carrier certain to be a key factor in proceedings at Twickenham.

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Siya Kolisi v Sam Underhill

This is sure to be another fascinating duel. After all the Rassie Erasmus drama from this past week, Kolisi will face a big task in ensuring the Bok team channel their emotions and energy in the right direction. 

The breakdown is one area of the game that will be fiercely contest on Saturday, with Underhill sure to be deployed in a role aimed at disrupting the Springboks from generating quick ball.

Kolisi has been in sensational form in 2021, and as the Boks head into one of the biggest Tests of the season, he will want to lead from the front once again.

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Eben Etzebeth v Maro Itoje

As was the case during the British & Irish Lions series earlier this year, plenty of attention will be placed on the performance of Etzebeth and Itoje, who are two of the most influential forwards from each side.

Etzebeth was deservedly named Man of the Match against Scotland last weekend after producing a blockbuster 80-minute performance, and he is set to lead the Boks’ physical challenge in this rematch of the 2019 World Cup final.

For England, Itoje is their key man at the lineouts, and he will be looking to disrupt the Boks’ maul while also getting under the skin of his opposing forwards. This is the battle that could be the catalyst for plenty of fireworks on Saturday.

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Here are the full team lineups:

England – 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Joe Marchant, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Jonny May, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Bevan Rodd.

Subs: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Raffi Quirke, 23 Max Malins.

Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.

Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn.

LIVE | SPRINGBOKS V ENGLAND: SCORES, COMMENTARY AND PRE-TEST BUILD-UP