The back-to-back World Champions will no doubt be the more confident team going into the Test, and they are aware of the fact that the English are a different beast to deal with on their home soil.

In recent times the Springboks have had the upper hand against England and this includes the 32-12 win in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final and last year’s 16-15 semi-final win in Paris.

Reinach said they are not going to fall into the trap of viewing the Test as a grudge match. “If we get into that it will take us away from the actual Test match,” said the Bloemfontein-born-and-bred Reinach. “We need to focus on what is coming on Saturday and how to put our plan on the field.”

Reinach added that there is certainly a big rivalry between the two teams and their recent Rugby World Cup success will no doubt add a lot of spice to the important game for both teams. “Every Test against England is special and it’s always a big rivalry,” the speedy halfback added.

‘They’re under some pressure with those close losses’

“We’ve played each other at both of the last World Cups, in the 2019 final and in the 2023 semi-final and those were close games … and we’re expecting them to come out this weekend, wanting to win.

“They’re under some pressure with those close losses, but we’re just going to go out there and keep doing what we do.”

Reinach, who is expected to start in the number nine jersey on Saturday, said for them it’s also all about preparing as well as they can to give themselves the best chance at success.

“Rugby is a strange game – sometimes you are on the good side of the result in a close match. For me, it is about how you put your week together, how you prepare. Do you prepare for certain circumstances in a game and certain situations that come your way?

“We are preparing for everything that can happen and I think the players then feel confident and know what to do in certain situations.”

Saturday’s Test at Twickenham kicks off at 19:40.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg