Martin Johnson's strategy for the autumn internationals became even more transparent yesterday. He has turned his back on any mix-and-match policy, limited though he is to selection from a squad of 32, and will give a third outing to what is essentially the same match squad against South Africa, the world champions.

Those players who come through the ordeal by fire - or at least by the Sanzar unions - most successfully will form his hard core going into next year's RBS Six Nations Championship. It is, therefore, a good time for James Haskell to step into the starting XV that will play the Springboks at Twickenham on Saturday in the third leg of the Investec Challenge Series.

Haskell's arrival at blind-side flanker instead of Tom Croft is the only change to the side beaten 28-14 by Australia last weekend, a game that England might have won but for some self-inflicted wounds and an outstanding Wallaby defence. But the selection emphasises yet again the huge change in approach made by Johnson's management: it is no more than 13 months since England last played South Africa, in the World Cup final, and only four members of that starting XV remain: Andrew Sheridan, Phil Vickery, Nick Easter and Paul Sackey.

Sheridan and Vickery, the props, have much to prove, too. By their own admission, England's scrum faltered last Saturday and a heavy-duty scrummaging session is planned for tomorrow. That will allow Sheridan to have more physiotherapy after twisting his neck in a ruck against Australia, creating a pins-and-needles effect that has not entirely dispersed.

“We weren't happy with how the scrum went collectively, we've addres-sed the issues verbally, now we need to get it done in practice,” the Sale Sharks prop said. “Perhaps I was a bit tentative in the way I approached the scrums at the weekend, knowing how many resets are to be expected against Australia and trying to avoid giving away penalties. But South Africa tend to be a bit more direct and I like that.”

The scrum is the most obvious area where Johnson, the team manager, has stuck by his men. He could have promoted Matt Stevens to the starting XV, given that the Bath player carried the ball well last weekend and would be motivated by playing against the country where he was born. That could still happen if Sheridan's neck injury does not clear up completely, which would presumably mean a place on the bench for Tim Payne.

That would add another London Wasp to the mix. It is an interesting statistic, no more, that the top three clubs in the Guinness Premiership (Bath, Harlequins and London Irish) have five representatives in Saturday's starting XV and the bottom three (Newcastle Falcons, Wasps and Bristol) have eight, which is a tribute to the regard the England management have for what Wasps have done to become the best club team in England, if not for how they are now playing.

“You review your options all the time, win or lose,” Johnson said, and, just as he gave Nick Kennedy an opportunity at lock against the Pacific Islanders, he has brought the uncapped Jordan Crane on to the bench at the expense of Michael Lipman. The chances are that the Leicester No8 will make his debut around the hour mark for Easter. The two are not dissimilar players who may not be the fastest on two legs but have a good rugby brain and are strong on the ball.

Not only that, but Easter is playing with his Harlequins scrum half, Danny Care. As and when Crane arrives, he may do so alongside his club scrum half, Harry Ellis. In a team in which so many combinations are finding their feet in the heat of international battle, such links are not to be sniffed at.

“We're happy Tom Croft can handle the physicality of these games but it's right to give James Haskell a start,” Johnson said. “He has impressed off the bench in the first two games while Tom's had a full 160 minutes. But the guys are getting used to the pace and ferocity of Test-match rugby.”

Given that the Springboks, who will confirm their starting XV tomorrow, are likely to field Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies in their back row, Haskell will have his hands full. It is a task that he welcomes. “Without sounding cheesy, it's a big challenge to play against Burger, I've tried to model my game on him,” Haskell, 23 and winning his eleventh cap, said. “This game is another progression on the road of international rugby. New Zealand last summer was a major step, Australia off the bench was another and now this.”

To play South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday
D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (London Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle Falcons), R Flutey (London Wasps), U Monye (Harlequins); D Cipriani (London Wasps), D Care (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (London Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, captain), T Palmer (London Wasps), J Haskell (London Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (London Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester).