The Albany Gazette - Springbok milestones loom for Willemse and Kolbe against England

The Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg will be among six first-round fixtures in a new competition, which pits northern and southern hemisphere nations against each other.

After six rounds, three each in July and November, the competition will climax with six matches at Twickenham in late November to determine final placings.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus hailed the two backs set to become half centurions, vowing that the record four-time Rugby World Cup title-holders will make it a "memorable day for them".

"They have been stalwarts for us over the years and, as a team, we would like to make it a memorable day for them," he said.

"It is not every day you have two players playing their 50th Test, so that will certainly add to our motivation this week."

Injured fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the only notable absentee from a team seeking to build on 23 Test victories in 27 Tests since winning the 2023 World Cup.

Apart from Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the backline is the strongest available to Erasmus, a key figure in the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs. Manie Libbok starts at fly-half.

With little to choose between scrum-halves Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach, the former will start against England with the latter on the bench.

Erasmus opted for Thomas du Toit at tighthead prop after his outstanding season with English Premiership outfit Bath.

Lood de Jager (ill) and Franco Mostert (niggle) were unavailable so lock Ruan Nortje partners veteran Eben Etzebth.

"England are a quality outfit... so it was important to select a squad with experience combined with a few younger players, who have proved they have what it takes to perform at this level," added Erasmus.

"England are a settled team and, similarly to us, they will also want to have a good start to this exciting new competition, so we are expecting a bruising encounter."

South Africa prepared for the Nations Championship with an 80-31 victory over the Barbarians in Gqeberha this month.

England last played in mid March, losing a Six Nations thriller 48-46 to champions France in Paris.

After England, South Africa host Scotland on July 11 in Pretoria and Wales in Durban seven days later.

Team (15-1)

Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche

Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zach Porthen, Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie

Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)

(N.Miller--TAG)