Rugby Union: Native Son Stevens to Face Springboks With Point to Prove

Nothing has gone right for England since they arrived in South Africa but there has been at least one compensation. Had they endured fewer injuries and less viral pestilence they would not be fielding their most talented prop against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow. The fact Matt Stevens has interrupted his holiday to play against the country of his birth has merely added a further piquant twist.

Only last week the 24-year-old was having lunch at his mother's house in Cape Town and planning a sunny break in Mozambique. Then his phone rang and any thought of relaxation disappeared out of the patio windows. Tonight, Matthew, you are required to rise from your deckchair and prepare to absorb the full force of the world's most physical side.

Stevens' call-up as a replacement for Gloucester's unfortunate Nick Wood has also accelerated a date with destiny which has been pending for some time. Only six years ago he represented South Africa against England in the world under-19 championships in Chile before deciding his professional future would be better served by moving to the land of his paternal grandfather. Rugby-wise, he has never regretted the move but not every Springbok supporter will sympathize with his split loyalties tomorrow.

It will also be his first England appearance since the grim 31-6 defeat to France in Paris almost 15 months ago. Then, as now, there was pre-match illness in the camp but his toughest struggle has been recuperating from a major shoulder reconstruction which, at one point, threatened his career. "The possibility went through my head and the surgeon's head as well," he admits. "Luckily after the second op everything seemed to be good."

Since returning for Bath he has also managed 11 games without any ill-effects, having made the most of his enforced break. As the runner-up on ITV's Celebrity X Factor he proved himself as both a talented singer and an endearing personality, raising a six-figure sum for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, which prompted a personal invitation to visit the former South African president. Stevens rates it "the pinnacle moment of my life" and presented Mandela with a gift of his own: "I took him over a Bath jersey because I don't think he would have accepted an England one."

Having also chosen the contentious topic of affirmative action in South African sport as the subject of his university dissertation, there is no question that tomorrow's contest means a lot. "It has been quite weird. Every time England have played the Springboks I've been out of contention or injured so it's a massive game for me, probably the biggest I've been involved in so far. But emotionally I think I'm ready and I have been since I made the choice to play for England. It's going to be a massive honour standing next to the boys and singing our anthem." If anyone can be relied upon to give a tuneful rendition it is the first England player in history to list Sharon Osbourne as a mentor.

It would be a mistake, though, to assume his former South African schoolboy adversary Gurthro Steenkamp will be loitering shyly for an autograph prior to the first scrum. The Springboks will not want to let a weakened England off the hook and Stevens is demanding an improved performance from the tourists. "Last week we were slightly on the back foot from the beginning and didn't take the game to them. England have got to step up, look to run more ball and be more positive in the way we play." His local knowledge may also help. "I don't know if Victor Matfield will call the lineouts in Afrikaans but, if he does, I'll be listening out."

With Kevin Pietersen hammering West Indies to all parts and Mike Catt re-emerging at the age of 35, it could just be that Stevens and his fellow emergency replacement on this tour, the Johannesburg-born Nick Abendanon, will once more underline English sport's continued debt to South African-reared athletes. Then again, a truly formidable Springbok squad looks to be coping ominously well without them.