Interview: Tom Croft, England rugby player

Tom Croft was "battered" by South Africa during the epic British and Irish Lions tour of 2009 - but is ready to go through it all again for England on Saturday.

The Leicester flanker has never experienced anything more physically intense than the second Test in Pretoria, which ended with five Lions being taken to hospital.

Lions doctor James Robson described the game, which the Springboks snatched 28-25 with a last-gasp penalty from Morne Steyn, as "brutal".

Croft warned England have to be prepared to emulate the Lions and match South Africa blow-for-blow at Twickenham on Saturday if they are to floor the world champions. "That second Test was the most physical I have played, one of the biggest games I have played. At the end of it I was absolutely battered," he recalled. "It is all very well talking about South Africa's physicality but England are a physical team as well and we won't just try to absorb them and match them."

Croft's reputation was forged as a supremely athletic loose forward, with the pace of a back, but his Lions experience convinced him not to be shy of confrontation.

The 25-year-old was not in the original Lions party but he replaced Alan Quinlan and went on to start the first two Tests before appearing off the bench in the third Test victory.

Confrontation is something that can be guaranteed at Twickenham on Saturday. England expect a full frontal assault from the Springboks following their 21-17 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend. South Africa have picked a fearsome forward pack, with Victor Matfield still the foremost lineout operator in world rugby, while Pierre Spies has returned to the back row.

"We have to expect South Africa to come out all guns blazing. It will be an absolutely massive game," said Croft.

England manager Martin Johnson will confirm his line-up at mid-day today but he is expected to name the same starting XV that beat Australia 35-18, with Matt Banahan coming onto the bench for Delon Armitage.