England enter their autumn series opener against South Africa at Twickenham as favourites.
Here, Press Association Sport examines five talking points leading into the game.
Countdown to Japan 2019
England’s path towards next year’s World Cup has reached a critical juncture that could have far-reaching implications. South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia form a fiendishly difficult autumn schedule that could nudge Eddie Jones towards the exit if results and/or performances are desperate. A dreadful injury list offers Jones some protection, but a run of five defeats in six Tests hints at a coach who has lost the Midas touch that lit up the opening two years of his reign.
Farrell pulls the strings
For only the third time under Jones, Owen Farrell will start at fly-half with the head coach eager to see how he performs with the power of either Ben Te’o or Manu Tuilagi alongside him in midfield. It gives another layer of responsibility to the Saracen, who adds chief conductor to his already established duties as tactical general, co-captain and goalkicker.
Manu’s aborted comeback
Te’o will provide the initial ball carrying thrust in midfield in a selection call that can only be described as a gamble given he has been limited by thigh and calf issues to 28 minutes of rugby since May. It was hoped Manu Tuilagi would scatter the Springboks as an impact replacement to relaunch his Test career after years of misery caused by a devastating run of injuries, until he was stricken by a groin strain and withdrawn from the bench on Friday. Wing Chris Ashton has filled the vacancy among the replacements.
Eddie’s rookies
English ranks have been thinned by injury to such an extent that with 93 appearances Dylan Hartley has more caps than the rest of his pack combined. Alec Hepburn and Kyle Sinckler are rookie props, while the back row of Brad Shields, Tom Curry and Mark Wilson have a mere 10 caps between them. Locks George Kruis and Maro Itoje have important roles to play as more seasoned campaigners, but this is a raw England eight.
Rampaging Boks
Fresh from their 2-1 series victory over England in June and an encouraging Rugby Championship, the Springboks will run out at Twickenham with many of their big beasts including Eben Etzebeth, Malcolm Marx and Duane Vermeulen present. Faf De Klerk and Willie Le Roux – unavailable because the match falls outside the international window – are big absentees but Rassie Erasmus’ men are a team on the rise and offer formidable opposition.
