Stuart Lancaster: Captains will be crucial

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has said that captaincy strength will be crucial in the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

Both sides have relatively new skippers, with England being led by Chris Robshaw, who has made just six Test appearances, while the Springboks are being skippered by Jean de Villiers for the first time.

Lancaster said: "Jean de Villiers strikes me as a key player for South Africa.

"The primary thing for a captain is to earn your place in the side and there is no doubt he has done that, and he has done it well.

"We have got a good captain in Chris Robshaw and I know the importance of good leadership in the team."

Lancaster said that victory in the opening test was vital but admitted winning in South Africa is a "formidable challenge".

The two sides meet on each of the next three Saturdays in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth respectively.