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The Nations Championship does not start until Saturday, but for Rassie Erasmus the fun and games have already begun. Sometimes the simplest messages can be the most effective and Erasmus’s decision to kickstart the week with an early bang by naming a strong Springbok lineup to face England was another artful initiative by a head coach who loves to be one jump ahead.

Not only has the heavy thud of a properly stacked Bok team sheet instantly set the narrative for the week, it has left England to try to play catch‑up if they can. Virtually all South Africa’s heaviest hitters – Siya Kolisi, Pieter‑Steph du Toit and Malcolm Marx – will be there to roll out the welcome mat at Ellis Park, banishing any idle notion that Erasmus might tinker slightly for the opening fixture.

No wonder he was in upbeat mood at his squad’s hotel, just up the road from England’s Sandton base. Kolisi will be leading South Africa in a Test for a remarkable 72nd time while Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse will earn their 50th caps.

The starting XV, which also includes Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché and Bath’s departing tighthead, Thomas du Toit, contains a weighty total of 935 caps even before the bench enters the equation.

There are a few absentees in the shape of the injured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Franco Mostert, the indisposed Lood de Jager and the rested Wilco Louw, but for the most part it is full metal jacket time. Given England’s most recent previous win at Ellis Park was the small matter of 54 years ago, it is hard to classify the visitors as anything other then second favourites.

So much, at any rate, for the theory that England, after their disappointing Six Nations campaign, could catch the Boks slightly off guard. Likewise the claim, previously floated by Erasmus, that this new tournament – he even intimated he was not entirely sure of its name – is not South Africa’s top priority. Never believe the powerful crocodile with the big sharp teeth claiming not to be terribly hungry.

There is also the uneasy fact that England’s erstwhile head analyst Joe Lewis and former defence coach Felix Jones are now part of South Africa’s brains trust. “Yeah, of course,” Erasmus said when asked if it might help South Africa to have the inside track on England’s players and patterns. “Without a doubt.”

To some extent, though, it works both ways. “There’s a guy called Byron McGuigan [a member of England’s coaching staff] who spent a whole week with us as Sale Sharks coach and I’m pretty sure he has a lot of stuff on us. Eddie Jones moved from England to Australia and then Australia to Japan … some IP gets transferred and it is same with Joe.

“When you look at any of the tier one nations some have five analysts and I think the French have eight guys. I know England also have a lot. We were looking for another analyst and Joe was available. Now we have three, but I still think we’re far off with the other countries. We scan everywhere. It is good to get fresh voices with many ideas.”

Add in a thrashing of the Barbarians last week and England look set to have their work cut out. Like everyone else, Erasmus is keen to see exactly how Steve Borthwick’s side seek to play but even the most educated guesswork goes only so far. “It is difficult to comment on what other coaches do and I don’t think it is right,” Erasmus said.

“It is more about analysing facets of their game and seeing how you can win facet by facet. You put it into departments and try and win those departments in order to try and win the game. They will be exactly the same.”

There is respect, too, for Henry Pollock, based on what the Springboks have seen from afar. “We try to keep our reality close to the truth and the truth is he is a flipping good rugby player,” Erasmus said. “His teammates also probably love him, so what does it matter what the world says? All we can do is analyse how he plays rugby and he is a massive threat.”

Ben Earl, another English back‑rower hoping to go toe to toe with South Africa’s pack, is more concerned with ensuring he and his team show the best of themselves regardless of what the Boks produce. “Knowing the guys who are now in their backroom staff I’m sure they’ve got a plan,” he said.

“[But] the moment you put on the England shirt you do seem to find another gear. I hope that’s the case for everyone.

“Test match rugby is brutal. It’s almost a different sport to our domestic league at times. You’d argue they’re the most physical team in the world so we’re going to have to be right on our mettle.”