After making a winning start to their end of year rugby international program South Africa move on to Twickenham for Saturday's clash with England
England v South Africa, Saturday 16th November, Twickenham, KO 19:40 (South African time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Chris Busby (IRFU), Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Weather Forecast: Twickenham
England:
After running the All Blacks 3 times this year England went into last week's clash with the Wallabies as 12.5 point favourites on the main handicap line but they failed to deliver, losing the game 42-37. England scored the first 12 points of the game but the Wallabies fought back to lead 2-18 at half time. Both sides scored 5 tries a piece but the decisive score came from the Wallabies at the death and England have now lost each of their last 4 matches.
At the start of November England took on the All Blacks at Twickenham, they were given around 3.5 points start on the bookmakers main handicap line and in a dramatic finish they missed an opportunities to win the game, eventually going down 24-22.
England also took on the All Blacks in a 2 match series in New Zealand in the middle of the year. They put in 2 big performances, edged out in the first test 16-15 and they went down in the second test 24-17. England had tuned up for that tour with a 52-17 victory over Japan in Tokyo.
In the Six Nations earlier this year England finished third with their stand out result being a 23-22 victory over Ireland at Twickenham in Round 4 which ultimately denied Ireland another Grand Slam. They started that tournament with a 27-24 win in Italy and then beat Wales 16-14 at Twickenham. Next up they went down 30-21 in Scotland and after turning the Irish over England finished up by going down 33-31 in France.
South Africa:
The Boks first action since the Rugby Championship came at Murrayfield last week and the saw off Scotland 32-15 (half time 19-9). They started as favourites at around 8.5 points on the main handicap line and scored 4 unanswered tries including a brace for Mapimpi in the first half either side of a du Toit try and Wiese went over at the end of the game.
South Africa also landed the Rugby Championship title this year. They started with back to back wins over the Wallabies in Australia ( 30-12 and 33-7) and then beat the All Blacks in two close games on home turf, coming from behind on both occasions to win 18-12 in Cape Town and 31-27 in Johannesburg. Their only defeat came in Argentina where they went down 29-28 to Los Pumas but a round later they beat the same opposition 48-7 in South Africa to clinch the title.
In July this year South Africa shared their 2 match home series against Ireland, winning the first test 27-20 but losing the second 25-24. They also ran out winners at home to Portugal 64-21.
South Africa now renew rivalry with England whom they beat in a nail biting the RWC23 semi final and after this they will face Wales.
Team News
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Alex Dombrandt; 21 Harry Randall, 22 George Ford, 23 Tom Roebuck
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am
Recent Head to Head
The RWC 2023 semi final in Paris the Boks came out on top 16-15
In the 2022 November international at Twickenham South Africa were 27-13 winners whilst in November 2021 England edged out the Boks 27-26, also at Twickenham
The Betting
Updated 15 November 23h25
England +8.5 points at 9/10
South Africa -7.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
The handicap opened England +6.5 and has gone out slightly to +7.5 and even +8.5 in places. England are coming off the back of 2 narrow, but heart breaking losses against New Zealand and Australia and I think they are going to find this South African team too strong for them.
South Africa had the luxury of resting key players last week and I can see them kicking clear to win this one by more than the handicap.
It looks like being a cold and potentially wet evening at Twickenham and the points line of 47.5 looks about right.
BET: 4 Units, South Africa -7.5 at 0.92/1 at Boylesports
I am going to scour the exotic markets and will add at least 1 more bet before kick off
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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