Springbok centre Jesse Kriel says South Africa are expecting a: “different dynamic” when they face Japan at Wembley Stadium today, as the world champions launch their five-week end-of-year tour.

Kriel, who has played in Japan for almost seven years with the Canon Eagles, said the familiarity between players from both countries would bring a unique edge to the contest. “Some of the players know one another’s tendencies and how they play, so tactically we need to be at our best to stop the threats they bring,” he said.

The Springboks will use the fixture to set the tone for a demanding end-of-year European tour, which includes Tests against France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales over consecutive weekends. “This game is everything for us to get our end-of-the-year campaign off to a good start,” Kriel added. “We won’t look further than this game, so it’s important to get a good result.”

Scrumhalf Grant Williams, who will face Japan for the first time, said the Brave Blossoms’ speed would pose a serious challenge. “They play a very fast game, and Wembley has a fast pitch, so it will be a challenging day if we don’t slow down their ball,” he said, noting Japan’s narrow four-point loss to Australia last weekend as proof of their competitiveness.

For Kriel, returning to Wembley brings fond memories. “The last time I played there was in 2016 against the Barbarians,” he said. “It’s a fantastic stadium with a great atmosphere, so it will be exciting to play there again.”

Kick-off is at 18:10 South African time.

The Common Sense’s sport guru rubbed the head of the editor and predicts a score of 43 – 18 for the Braai Guys.