The recall of high ball master Steward, successfully predicted by Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus hours before Borthwick named his team, is a nod to the impact on the game caused by World Rugby’s autumn crackdown on ‘escort runners’, who block the path of kick-chasers.

England welcome the Springboks to Twickenham as underdogs, having lost two on the bounce at home in agonising fashion. While a narrow loss to New Zealand in the first Autumn Nations Series lifted hopes, a defeat in similar circumstances to an Australia in rebuild mode last weekend has firmly placed the pressure on Steve Borthwick’s head.