Crane in action during England's training session at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Jordan Crane

Teams: England

Jordan Crane insists he will not be daunted by the prospect of making his England debut against world champions South Africa and their vaunted back row.

Crane, who is 6ft 3in and weighs in at 18 stones, has been promoted to the bench for Saturday's showdown at Twickenham as England look to combat the Springboks' renowned physicality. The Leicester number eight is relishing the chance to lock horns with the likes of former world player of the year Schalk Burger, dynamic number eight Pierre Spies and Juan Smith.

"It is brilliant. The prospect of winning my first cap against the world champions is great," said Crane. "They are big old boys and quite direct but it is a challenge and I am looking forward to it more than being fazed or daunted by it. You see those guys playing in the Super 14 and the Tri-Nations. You know what qualities they have. To get my first taste of Test rugby against the likes of Schalk Burger is going to be great.

"They (England) wanted a bit of bulk. I will take my ball-carrying game into the match and just do what I can."

Crane, whose boyhood hero was John Barnes, was a trainee goalkeeper with West Brom and his brother Daniel is now at Solihull Moors after stints with Rushden & Diamonds and Cambridge United. But Jordan chose rugby as a 14-year-old and has captained England at Under-18 and Under-19 level before helping the Under-21s win the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2006.

Last summer he was voted the Churchill Cup's MVP after an impressive tournament with the England Saxons earned him a place in Martin Johnson's elite squad. But after not being involved against either the Pacific Islanders or Australia, Crane began to doubt whether he would get a chance before the autumn internationals were up.

"I played for Leicester on the afternoon of the World Cup final last year and then went back home with some of the boys to watch the game," Crane added. "I always felt it would be a progression to get to England. You always strive to try and get in. I have been chomping at the bit to get a chance. I had to keep my head down, keep training and working as hard as I can.

"Now that opportunity has come. I think they brought me for a bit of bulk and I hope to make the most of it. You couldn't pick a better potential debut than against South Africa."