South Africa have served notice to England that they have set their sights on a Test series whitewash and warned Eddie Jones’s side that they will “struggle” in Cape Town in the absence of Billy Vunipola.
The England No 8 returned back to the UK on Monday after re-fracturing the arm that sidelined him for four months earlier in the season.
Duane Vermeulen, the Springbok No 8 who was man-of-the-match in the 23-12 victory in the second Test in Bloemfontein on Saturday, claimed England are not the same team without Vunipola.
"I saw him (Vunipola) go down and thought it was his shoulder at first,” said Vermeulen. “He is definitely England's go-forward guy and without him, I saw in the Six Nations...