Steve Borthwick needs to eradicate his England side's disciplinary problems against South Africa © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Steve Borthwick | Ryan Jones | Richie McCaw

Teams: England | New Zealand | Wales

Test match rugby is an unforgiving environment that constantly asks demanding questions of players and coaches.

It puts people in the spotlight - insisting they perform at a level only an elite band can ever aspire to, let alone attain. But once those individuals are there, competing for glory in such a rarefied atmosphere, it is about producing the goods.

Two leading British players, it could be argued, will find themselves under the microscope this weekend like never before - Steve Borthwick and Ryan Jones, respective captains of England and Wales.

Borthwick's side host world champions South Africa, while Wales last beat their visitors - the world's number one-ranked team New Zealand - in 1953.

In rugby union, current buzz words employed by many coaches and players include talking about "collective effort" and "team ethos," rather than individual contributions.

But make no mistake about it, the stakes have rarely been higher for Borthwick or Jones. England, by common consent, are a work in progress under the fledgling managerial regime of Martin Johnson.

There were times against Australia last Saturday when Johnson's men displayed promising glimpses. Unlike some recent England teams, at least they appear capable of creation and invention. But where Borthwick has to take a grip is on the critical subject of discipline.

One player cannot be held accountable for the indiscretions of others. But Saracens lock Borthwick is the captain, and there were times against Australia when a couple of good old-fashioned rollickings would not have gone amiss.

England conceded penalties with alarming frequency. It undermined their performance and allowed dead-eye Wallabies marksman Matt Giteau to punish them. One wondered at times whether some England players had taken the field still wearing their i-pods - because they clearly could not hear referee Marius Jonker's repeated warnings.

Maybe Jonker should carry a loudspeaker, air horns and wind-up siren next time he controls an England Test. Perhaps that will get the message across. England's 2003 World Cup-winning mastermind Sir Clive Woodward used to rail at almost every penalty his team conceded - and those guilty players would know all about it afterwards.

But the technical indiscipline in Borthwick's team would have been unacceptable at junior level, let alone the high-octane Test arena. Whatever happens against the Springboks, Borthwick must show a greater awareness of what is going on around him - and then, if need be, do something about it.

As for Jones - a clear favourite at the start of this season to captain the Lions in South Africa next summer - matters can only improve. By his high standards, the Ospreys back-row forward has endured a poor domestic campaign - and the international game is proving similarly taxing.

Judging by a brief exchange at this week's Wales team announcement press conference, Jones is also feeling the pressure. Substituted by Warren Gatland just 10 minutes into the second half of last week's unimpressive victory over Canada, Jones - not unreasonably - was asked what had subsequently been said between coach and captain.

"It's none of your business," came the reply, in polar-opposite fashion to the normally laid-back approach that is one of Jones' most endearing qualities. If Jonathan Thomas was fit, instead of recovering from injury, you would have to question Jones' place in the team - let alone as captain.

But one big performance on Saturday would silence the doubters and remind everyone that 'form is temporary - class is permanent'.

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The International Rugby Board will reveal their player of the year at an awards dinner in London on Sunday night. I cannot quite work out, though, why the world's best forward did not even gain a nomination.

Richie McCaw's arch-critic Bob 'rent a quote' Dwyer would not agree, of course, but how the imperious New Zealand captain failed to make a short-list of five beggars belief.

It certainly is not because he has won the accolade before, given that 2005 recipient and his All Blacks colleague Dan Carter is again in the running. With McCaw a non-starter, the clear favourite is wing wizard Shane Williams - who dazzled crowds and bemused defences throughout 2008.

He would become the first Welsh player to land the honour - joining an illustrious group that includes Carter, McCaw, Jonny Wilkinson and Bryan Habana.

McCaw, just for once, will have to reflect on the one that got away.

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One hopes the IRB, assuming they were not otherwise engaged organising Sunday's bun-fight, took note of events in Limerick on Tuesday night.

Munster's 18-16 defeat against New Zealand was about much more than a memorable rugby match. All Blacks boss Graham Henry described at as "a special occasion" - and he was not wrong after a Thomond Park full house roared itself hoarse during Munster's valiant victory bid.

It was what touring used to be about - and still should be about - not just an endless sequence of Test matches.

Wasps versus New Zealand? Ospreys versus South Africa? Leinster versus Australia? What mouthwatering prospects they would be. It should be a topic for the IRB to digest between courses this weekend.