The experienced prop Mako Vunipola and the hooker Jamie George come into the starting XV at the expense of Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Alex Coles replaces Sam Simmonds on the flank, while in the backline, Tommy Freeman will start on the wing in place of Jack Nowell.

The centre, Manu Tuilagi, will be playing in his 50th Test for the English.

The coach, Eddie Jones, said the Springboks are the reigning world champions for a reason.

"Look, we're playing against the world champions, and they are the champions for a reason," said Jones who was Jakes White's assistant coach when the Springboks won the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

"They are a very good, tough side. They compete hard in the key contest areas - we know they work hard at the set piece, and they go hard in the air. 

"We've got to make sure that we keep our concentration in all of those areas. We will get opportunities to attack them and as those opportunities come, we've got to make sure that we execute our play."

Saturday night's Test at Twickenham kicks off at 19:30.

England - 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Alex Coles, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola

Replacements - 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Jack Nowell

Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché

Replacements - 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Canan Moodie

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport