England v South Africa: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live

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South Africa have been on the charm offensive this Autumn.

Rassie Erasmus told Gerard Meager that his “Springboks aren’t the bad guys” of world rugby.

But, before their comofrtable win over Scotland, Michael Aylwin wasn’t buying it.

But who needs a strategy to win hearts and minds when you have the most likable prop in your ranks. I said back in October that Ox Nche should at least get a look in for World Rugby’s player of the year award. Gerard agrees with me.

“Good luck South Africa!”

Says Ruth Edwards, proudly of Welsh stock. Guess the anybody-but-England mantra still resonates.

Preamble

All signs point to a blowout by the Boks. The double World Cup champions saunter into south-west London having claimed the Rugby Championship earlier in the year and a week after spanking Scotland by 17 points without leaving second gear.

England, by contrast, have developed a knack of losing tight games with six of their last eight fixtures going the way of the opposition. Steve Borthwick says he’s not under pressure, but he unquestionably is. A drubbing, as most expect, will compound matters.

But funny things happen when these teams meet each other. At the World Cup last year, England played a near perfect game and almost pulled off an almighty upset. Four years earlier, South Africa defied the bookies to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

The point is that form goes out the window and the ‘favourites’ tag can weigh heavy in these titanic encounters rich with history and dripping with narrative.

Ignore conventional wisdom, throw logic out this window. This is a Test between two proud nations at one of the sport’s grandest arenas. Epic is a word used often. It’s appropriate here.

Kick-off at 5:40pm.

Teams and more updates to follow.