Seems like they’re @ 6’s & 7’s. The age and experience in the pack stands out in these charts, with England averaging 20.6 caps compared to South Africa’s 36.6, and that’s with Dylan Hartley’s 93 bringing up the average significantly. Good luck Mr. Gorsky! We also have Moldova v Hungary, Andorra v Slovakia, Luxembourg v Sweden and Poland v Lithuania going on in the FIRA Championship D2. Don't think so. In my comment on the SA team, which is missing a few important cogs, I’ve reckoned on it being a lot tighter than those here have predicted. That's a wrap for today, thanks for joining. What?’ Not a single ‘thumbs up’ Fairly incisive commentary I thought, even if I do state so myself. With Eddie Jones under fire after a poor Six Nations performance and an underwhelming tour to South Africa in … 699. Just think England are missing too many big players up front. What is your prediction for England v South Africa? Manu has groin strain but will rejoins squad on Sunday to prepare for NZ, Elliot Daly continues at full back for England against South Africa - ‘I enjoyed playing at 15 on tour in the summer. From the section Rugby Union. England have said that if tomorrow were a Rugby World Cup final, they would have risked Tuilagi's injury. Old Mutual Wealth Series International match between England and South Africa on November 12, 2016 at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. "If Saturday was a World Cup final then we would probably have kept him in". England’s RWC hero from 15 years ago @JonnyWilkinson is at Twickenham continuing his work with Owen Farrell. South Africa’s pack will be monstrous, and if they win the scrum battle, win the collisions and win the breakdown, they will win the match. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. pic.twitter.com/ByBNM41DVu. “It is the deepest we have had to dig,” said Eddie Jones as the squad rounded off their preparations in the Algarve before flying back to London on Thursday. Sorry, I meant to add in the article. It’s a simple game. Wilson is a prominent part of this piece, on how England might attempt to counter the power and size of South Africa's pack this weekend. This morning, we will be bringing you quotes from captains' runs and plenty of preview pieces...mostly from those three matches containing Six Nations teams. My eyes are on Itoje – as essentially the 2nd most experienced pack member (ignoring that Kruis has a few more caps, but had fewer recent international call ups), for me he needs to demonstrate his leadership qualities against this Boks pack via big hits and the extra graft that’ll be required. . Welcome back Warren.... pic.twitter.com/yNHzcXVSsG. "We want to win first and foremost, but there are a lot of guys who have come into the squad with opportunities. I’ve gone with SA, but by 5. Another prodigal son, Chris Ashton, will take his place on the bench and is poised to win a first cap since 2014. All good fun. England’s pack weighs 875kg, compared to South Africa’s monstrous 916kg, which means on average the away side is over 5kg heavier per man. Full match replay of the November 3, 2018 test between England and South Africa. Make sure to check back in tomorrow for all the latest updates. Here is Mick Cleary on that farcical situation. Already highlighted, but exp & weight favour SA up front which is where, as is usually the case, the game will be dictated. They also expect Tuilagi to resume training next week and to be in contention to face New Zealand on November 10. Mark Wilson, the industrious Newcastle Falcons back-rower, will make his first start for England on Saturday against the Springboks. At least for SA. It’s a classic case of head versus heart for my Superbru pick. SA by 15. Ok, thanks. Here’s Jonny! We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. Pretty sure the average heights of forwards are incorrect. We've had the build up, team announcements, captain's runs...it's almost time for the action to start in this year's Autumn internationals. Chris Ashton IN.Tuilagi out with a muscle strain, expected to be fit for remainder of the month. upbringing of South Africa's first black captain. This time around, Gregor Townsend will be aiming for something far more precise. Thanks, good spot. Luke Morgan, on fire for the Ospreys in the Pro 14, is another uncapped wing who will be darting around the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Saturday is set to be a cracker. So for a young guy like that to step up and come to SA and do so well against a full Springbok team is really a tap on his shoulder. Here is a glance at the first set of fixtures....or at least, the headline ones. “So that's why I'm really very nervous of faces I don't know to say there might be a weakness. Maybe. The great Doddie Weir met Stuart and his team at their captain’s run at the Principality Stadium today. Rugby World Cup 2007 Classic Match - Final - England vs South Africa. pic.twitter.com/ATC9fSo2Ex. The away side’s fresh back three is likely to be tested by Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell. I can’t see anything other than a SA win. So, the major news today is that Manu Tuilagi will have to wait for his England return. Last updated on 3 November 2018 3 November 2018. The line out could be a tussle, but England have to win their throws. I think we will get demolished upfront and SA will take full advantage. Wales head coach Warren Gatland lost his father last week, and flew back to New Zealand to be with his family. I switched them over here for better comparison. It's very good. Does that explain why Ben Te'o has been rushed back into the starting line-up? The benches are a bit of a mixed bag exp wise, but as already foretold, the Saffers look likely to keep the pressure on with some big’uns for the full 80. Doddie Weir's charity WILL be getting a significant sum from the Welsh and Scottish unions after all. "From the outset and when the (Scotland) fixture was named it was a different complexion. For Siya Kolisi, Saturday's match with England will be his first competitive experience playing at Twickenham. Desperation, fortitude, resilience all required, pity they’re missing Cip & ED in the backs for some inspiration as well, but it is also what it is for England on Saturday. SA by 23. Bath's transformation - how the in-form Premiership semi-finalists found their identity, All Blacks no longer have to quarantine over Christmas, What we learnt from post-lockdown rugby - five trends from the second half of the Premiership season, Courtney Lawes will miss England's autumn internationals in further blow to Eddie Jones. EC, I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Anyway, England have indeed played with guts & determination in the past, but they need a bit of guile too, which, IMO, has been lacking both in the past & in the here & now. Anywhere else and you’d have to say SA comfortably. 14 Comments on Autumn Internationals 2018: England v South Africa Prediction Jonny May of England looks to reach the try-line. pic.twitter.com/ZwENfWfzaZ. I'm sure he will be back in the next couple of weeks. England are still trying to figure out who they are. There’s little depth at scrum-half, and a rookie full-back will no doubt be put under pressure, and I suspect the Springbok attack won’t be quite the same without those two key players. The Edinburgh wing, a star of the sevens scene, is a box-office talent. Imo England’s forwards lack the experience (Mercer, Hepburn, Williams, Ewels, …) to really counter it. Tomorrow, it begins. This is the big one this weekend, and I’m not as confident as I’d like to be as an England fan. The Springboks have been much more impressive in 2018, with a series win over England and then claiming the All Blacks’ scalp in Wellington. It's a very interesting read. There are guys who featured in the summer that want to build on the opportunities they had in the summer. And here is the man himself on the BBC's One Show this week. England will need just parity in the set piece, no easy task I know, but it’s in the loose where they’ll need to really take to to SA. Don P – Still believe we shall win but give some credit to an England team that has the guts and been determined in the past!! "It’s different to the Five Nations or Six Nations – depending on how old you are – but it’s an opportunity to play against a close rival and I’m sure it will be a mouth-watering encounter for the series as a whole. Genius from the English rugby administration. Rassie Erasmus has them playing coherently, with incredible line speed in defence and big tacklers pressuring the opposition into mistakes; then in attack, a powerful pack that generates quick ball, Faf de Klerk recycling it quickly, and Handre Pollard and Willie Le Roux distributing it to the fast men out wide. Yep no way both teams forwards average the same based on the fact that SA forwards are taller in all positons. Read Richard Bath on that selection here. BREAKING! They could edge this one, but they could do with a couple of intercepts, hope that the opposition kicker hit the post x4 & have a following tail wind to do so. 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