WHO WILL RASSIE PICK?

TIGHT SCHEDULE: INJURIES, OVERWORKED PLAYERS COULD PLAY HUGE ROLE

- Ross Roche

The Springboks are set to kick off their end-of-year-tour to the UK and Europe with their first ever encounter against Japan outside of a Rugby World Cup year, at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Boks and Japan have only clashed three times in their history, the first being the infamous 34-32 loss the South Africans suffered at the 2015 World Cup.

They then met twice in 2019 with the Boks picking up two thumping wins, the first a 41-7 triumph against the hosts in both teams final warm up match before the showpiece event, and the second a 26-3 win in their World Cup quarterfinal.

They are now back in the country where it all started for the two nations, and it will be interesting to see what team the Boks decide to send out.