Springbok milestones loom for Willemse and Kolbe against England

Full-back Damian Willemse and wing Cheslin Kolbe will make their 50th appearances for world champions South Africa in a Nations Championship match against England on Saturday.

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”.