The character shown by a team full of inexperienced players and some tactical changes on the field were two of the main reasons Rassie Erasmus felt the Springboks managed to overturn a significant deficit to beat England by 42-39 in the opening Test of the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.

England started with a bang and raced to a 24-3 lead in the opening quarter, thanks to three converted tries and a penalty goal, but SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby said they made a few tactical adjustments, which stared the comeback.

Siya Kolisi will lead the Springboks against England in the forthcoming Castle Lager Incoming Series while Pieter Steph-du Toit has been entrusted with the captaincy for Saturday’s historic Test in Washington against Wales.

Rassie Erasmus, the SA Rugby Director of Rugby, confirmed the two appointments on Monday morning at a media conference at the team hotel in Johannesburg.

The Emirates Lions made a splendid return to form on Saturday evening in Johannesburg when they defeated the Brumbies 42-24, with Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies victorious in his landmark 100th appearance for the Highvelders.

In the only other Vodacom Super Rugby match played in South Africa this weekend, the Cell C Sharks managed to beat the visiting Chiefs 28-24 in an exciting encounter in Durban while in Saturday’s late night action in Buenos Aires the Vodacom Bulls lost 54-24 to the in-form Jaguares.

The Junior Wallabies have outclassed a spirited Tongan U20s side 91-7 in round two of the Oceania Rugby U20s Championship.

The Junior Wallabies were never troubled by their Pacific neighbours as they put on 15 tries to one setting up a showdown with New Zealand on Saturday 5 May.