Rassie Erasmus has spoken with genuine respect about the England squad travelling to Johannesburg for the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July, warning that Steve Borthwick's side will be far more difficult to read than their Six Nations campaign might suggest.
England's touring group, announced by Borthwick on Monday following Erasmus's 46-man Springbok squad named on Saturday, averages 27 years of age with roughly 32 caps per player — a combination Erasmus described as young yet experienced.
"There are a few older players in their 30s, which brings the experience, but the young guys will add fearlessness into a team that was in the World Cup semi-final and who have competed really well off the back of the Premiership," said Erasmus. "It's a very competitive squad, and we know we'll have to work really hard against them at Ellis Park next week if we want to get a win."
Erasmus was dismissive of using England's Six Nations form as a gauge, saying the Boks focus on individual players rather than team structures when preparing. He flagged strong Northampton and Leicester representation in the touring party and noted that Borthwick's tendency to chase tactical trends makes specific preparation difficult. "If I say we know exactly what they'll do next Saturday, I'd be lying."
On Henry Pollock's inclusion, Erasmus drew a pointed comparison: "He's like Siya. People make a big deal about certain players, but I don't always think the players themselves want that attention. What counts is what they do on the field, and recently he's been doing that. If I were coaching him, I'd only look at his output, and that has been exceptional."
Kolisi, named captain once again, noted the symmetry that his first game as Springbok captain in 2018 was also against England at Ellis Park. He emphasised that the squad's depth of leadership rather than individual captaincy is the driving force. "For us who have been here for a while, it's about passing on as much information as we can to make sure everyone is up to speed, because we never know who's going to play or who's going to be needed."
Erasmus was clear that bonus-point accumulation is not a primary objective in a competition that builds toward a Finals Weekend in late November. "We'll approach each match individually — England first, then Scotland and Wales. For many years it's mostly been about the world rankings, so we just want to try and win every match and build squad depth, character, and a playing style that everyone is used to when we get to the World Cup next year."
The Boks wrap up their current camp on Thursday before reassembling on Sunday ahead of the Test.