Cole gets ready to best the Beast as England face Boks in Durban

England prop Dan Cole is relishing the challenge of taming the man known throughout rugby union as ‘The Beast’.

South Africa loosehead Tendai Mtawarira has long been recognised as a formidable opponent, but if there was any doubt, that was removed by a remarkable show of strength in a recent club match. The Sharks forward stunned fans as he not only prevented 18-stone team-mate Anton Bresler from landing on his head after overbalancing, but lifted him back over his own head to the ground.

Former England captain Phil Vickery was comprehensively and infamously outplayed by Mtawarira in a British and Irish Lions clash three years ago, but tighthead Cole has no fear ahead of Saturday’s first Test in Durban.

Cole said: “He is a good talisman for the Sharks and Springboks. He plays in Durban and gets the crowd behind him. We saw from Twickenham that if you get the crowd behind you that can carry the team. He is a strong character, he gets around the field and knows his set-piece. I have played against him once before, two years ago, and I am looking forward to the challenge once again.

“The Beast is up there in world looseheads as one of the best and I want to go there and take him on.”

Much has been made of the likely unfamiliar look of the South African side. New coach Heyneke Meyer has named nine uncapped players in his squad following a number of retirements and injuries. Yet one area where that may not apply is in the front row, with Meyer likely to opt for an all-Sharks trio of Mtawarira and the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie.

England head into the three-Test series with a poor recent record against the Springboks after losing their last seven clashes between the sides.

Their last overseas trip, to the 2011 World Cup, was also a controversy-ridden disaster but a new-look team restored optimism during a promising RBS Six Nations campaign earlier this year.

Cole said: “It’s good in the camp, it’s very positive. It is important to carry on from the Six Nations.” An England team rejuvenated under new coach Stuart Lancaster finished an unexpected second in the Six Nations and Leicester forward Cole, who has won 28 caps, feels momentum is building. “The way we played in the Six Nations – we ground out games and won them,” he explained.

Now we want to go to places and play games that hurt. We have to get through it and step it up.”