Rookie England prop looks like caged animal at training ready to unleash hell on Boks pack
England will know the challenge that awaits them today at Twickenham against the reigning world champions and world number ones South Africa, none more so than the members of their front row.
Bevan Rodd, Jamie Blamire and Kyle Sinckler are taking on the seemingly unstoppable force of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane, and based on how Jacques Nienaber has dealt with his substitutions this year, are going to face the Bomb Squad of Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx and Vincent Koch as well.
Fortunately for Eddie Jones, his one-cap loosehead Rodd looks primed to take on the daunting prospect of Nyakane and Koch, as he was seen marching around training like a cage animal in England’s final training session before the match.
Take a look:
England XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
14. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 6 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 68 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 4 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 111 caps)
1. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
2. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 4 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 50 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (C) (Northampton Saints, 89 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
8. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 35 caps)
Finishers
16. Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 73 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
21. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 3 caps)
22. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
23. Max Malins (Saracens, 9 caps)
South Africa XV
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 71 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 50 caps, 60 pts (12t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 25 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 57 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 24 caps, 95 pts (19t)
10 – Handré Pollard (Montpellier) – 59 caps, 586 pts (6t, 83c, 126p, 4d)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 20 caps, 40pts (8t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 60 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 18 caps, 5 pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 62 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 55 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 96 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 53 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 47 caps, 45 pts (9t)
1 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 8 caps, 0pts
Replacements
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 45 caps, 50 pts (10t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 58 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 30 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 50 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 10 caps, 0 pts
21 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 20 caps, 25 pts (5t)
22 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 43 caps, 323 pts (2t, 65c, 60p, 1d)
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 73 caps, 147pts (11t, 7c, 23p, 3d)
