LONDON — The South African rugby team has made significant adjustments ahead of their upcoming match against England, with Siya Kolisi returning as captain. Additionally, prop Wilco Louw has been selected for his first test match since 2021. A total of 12 changes were made to the team in preparation for this encounter.

From the squad that secured a 32-15 victory over Scotland on Sunday, only three forwards—Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, and Bongi Mbonambi—remain on the roster for this match. Head coach Rassie Erasmus opted to overhaul the entire backline to accommodate a compressed six-day recovery period between games.

Since the beginning of the 2024 season, Erasmus has implemented an average of 8.5 changes per test match, reflecting his strategy as he navigates through the rigorous schedule. Interestingly, the first match of the 2024 lineup took place against Wales back in June, also at Twickenham, the venue where Saturday’s game will be held.

Kolisi regains the captaincy from Etzebeth for this match, while Louw makes an anticipated return. Louw’s last appearance was during a closed-door test against Argentina amid the pandemic, and he was a last-minute addition to the tour due to an injury elsewhere in the squad.

In terms of strategy, Erasmus has adopted a 5-3 bench configuration favoring forwards, a shift from the previous game against Scotland where the split was 7-1. This change might reflect a more assertive approach to the forward pack, critical in winning scrums and set pieces.

On the other hand, England will enter the match under considerable scrutiny, having lost their last four games, including a semifinal defeat to the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup last year. England is expected to announce their lineup later today, with anticipation building around how they will respond to their recent challenges.

For South Africa’s squad, the lineup includes Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, and Grant Williams in the backline. The forward pack consists of Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, RG Snyman, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, and Bongi Mbonambi. The reserves feature Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, and Lukhanyo Am.