Rassie Erasmus says the reason he opted for a five-three split on the bench, as opposed to the seven-one split he employed against Scotland, is because he is anticipating an aerial bombardment from England.

The sides face each other at Twickenham on Saturday night, and while the Boks go into the game as the number one ranked side in the world, England come into the game on the back of consecutive losses to Southern Hemisphere opponents.

Looking ahead to the game Erasmus said: “When you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or a last-minute try, the pressure starts to build. I have been there and certainly know how quickly that can get to you. One normally falls back onto what works for you.

“I think they have been successful like that in the past, so we are expecting them to try and squeeze us with their kicking game.

“I have said it openly. They tend to go to a kicking game, and their backs are expected to chase more than 80% of those kicks, which puts a lot of pressure on us, and if our backs don’t have the ability to match that, there is trouble.

“Your forwards can’t always get there. You get cramps and tired and a few of the guys haven’t played any rugby for five weeks, although they have kept fit.

“That’s why we have Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am on the bench,” he said.

England versus South Africa on Saturday kicks off at 7:40pm.