England welcome the Springboks to Twickenham as underdogs, having lost two on the bounce at home in agonising fashion. While a narrow loss to New Zealand in the first Autumn Nations Series lifted hopes, a defeat in similar circumstances to an Australia in rebuild mode last weekend has firmly placed the pressure on Steve Borthwick’s head.

The recall of high ball master Steward, successfully predicted by Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus hours before Borthwick named his team, is a nod to the impact on the game caused by World Rugby’s autumn crackdown on ‘escort runners’, who block the path of kick-chasers.