Springbok team to face England at Twickenham

Rassie Erasmus has backed full South Africa debutant Damian Willemse to cope with the pressure of facing England at Twickenham.

Full-back Willemse steps into the starting line-up in the absence of Wasps' Willie le Roux, who is unable to play with Saturday's England clash falling outside the official World Rugby November Test window.

South Africa show seven changes from the starting line-up that just lost out 32-20 to New Zealand in Pretoria, with Willemse winning his fourth cap.

"Damian is very comfortable in the set-up," said Springboks boss Erasmus. "We have always had Willie le Roux available previously, but Damian deserves his chance now.

"With the World Cup in mind it's going to be good for the whole team. He's going to play in front of a full house with lots of pressure and a tough kicking game.

"So we'll learn a lot about him and he deserves his chance."



South Africa team to play England

Forwards: 1 Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province), 2 Malcolm Marx (Xerox Golden Lions), 3 Frans Malherbe (DHL Western Province), 4 Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Western Province), 6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Western Province), 7 Duane Vermeulen (Kubota Spears, Japan), 8 Warren Whiteley (Xerox Golden Lions)

Backs: 9 Ivan van Zyl (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 10 Handré Pollard (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Xerox Golden Lions), 12 Damian de Allende (DHL Western Province), 13 Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 14 Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 15 Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province)

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Western Province), 17 Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), 18 Wilco Louw (DHL Western Province), 19 RG Snyman (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 20 Lood de Jager (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 21 Embrose Papier (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 22 Elton Jantjies (Xerox Golden Lions), 23 André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks)

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