It didn’t take long for the war talk to start with former England international Mike Catt warning his side that “nothing can prepare them for the scale and brutality” of the challenge that lies ahead in South Africa.
England arrive in Durban on Thursday and Port Elizabeth-born Catt, who serves as backline coach to Stuart Lancaster, was brought in because of his in-depth knowledge of the country after being an English touring party member in 1994 and 2000.
In particular Catt believes that South African-born players Mouritz Botha and Brad Barritt will receive abuse because they will turn out in England colours.
“You can’t prepare for it. You have to feel it,” Catt, who won 75 caps for England, told PA Sport. “Stuart Lancaster has been sending emails for the past three or four months saying ’prepare yourself, prepare yourself, prepare yourself’.
“Brad Barritt did a presentation for us last night in connection with what to expect from the country and what to expect from the people -- but when it comes onto the pitch it is fierce, it is brutal.
“I remember us going down in 2000 and we played the first test and then we couldn’t train until the Thursday because we were so physically battered by it.
“These guys are going to have to be mentally tough and I think the environment we have created at the moment is going to benefit us.”
Catt was a midweek player in 1994 but a key member of the test side in 2000, when Clive Woodward’s team bounced back from losing the first test to beat the Springboks 27-22 in Bloemfontein.
“It is a brilliant place to go and a very welcoming place but very, very hostile environment when you do get into the rugby circles. But there is nothing better than beating them,” Catt said. “Winning there was one of the major highlights of my career, knowing what it means to the country and to the people.
“When we went there in 2000 with Clive Woodward we lost the first test, which we should have won, and then won the second test.
“I have seen both sides of it, the disappointment of losing and then winning in Bloemfontein -- the heartland of South African rugby -- was something that was very, very special. Not many teams achieve that.
“That tour was a massive stepping stone to the success we had at the World Cup. To go down to South Africa and beat them there was a massive confidence boost for us.
“With the culture and everything that Stuart has there, we now need to take it to another level and build it up to the 2015 World Cup.”
Throughout the 2000 tour, Catt was constantly reminded of the moment in the 1995 World Cup semifinal in Cape Town when he was trampled by New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu.
“I understand Afrikaans and English, I know all the chirps that come along - chirps about Jonah Lomu and all that,” Catt said. “They are such hard-working blokes. I don’t think it will faze those guys at all.
“They are very successful in their own rights and if people are abusing them it is only because they are jealous of them.”
England face the Springboks in the first of three tests on June 2 in Durban.
