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Four changes for England, including the axing of scrum-half Spencer
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick has named an England team showing four changes – including the axing of scrum-half Ben Spencer – to host South Africa this Saturday at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Hurt by last weekend’s clock-in-the red 37-42 defeat to Australia, three alterations have been made to the back line and one to the pack for the visit of the world champion Springboks.
Two of the England switches were injury-enforced, beginning with Sam Underhill being named at openside in place of Tom Curry, whose appearance against the Wallabies was ended by a first-half concussion.
Also marked absent for a similar reason for Autumn Nations Series match three will be Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who was an early second-half departure versus the Australians.
Tommy Freeman will switch from left to right wing to fill Feyi-Waboso’s No14 jersey, with Ollie Sleightholme, who came off the bench to score twice, chosen to start with the No11 on his back.
Aside from those two injury issues, there were two form changes in the backs as Freddie Steward has been chosen to start at full-back at the expense of George Furbank while Jack van Poortvliet has been picked at scrum-half in place of the axed Spencer.
Steward last started for England in their tour-ending loss to New Zealand in Auckland last July, but it was August 2023 when van Poortvliet was last capped at Test level.
At the time, he had been named in Borthwick’s official Rugby World Cup squad but a serious ankle injury against Wales just five days after that announcement ruled him out and paved the way for Alex Mitchell to come in and star at the finals.
With Sleightholme promoted to the starting line-up, his place on the England bench is taken by Tom Roebuck.
That is the only change to the England replacements where the five/three forwards/backs divide mirrors the split the Springboks have selected this weekend for their reserves following last Sunday’s seven/one tactic away to Scotland. The visitors have also made a dozen changes to their starting line-up.
In an RFU statement, England head coach Borthwick said: “We are excited to challenge ourselves against the world's top-ranked team and back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions. Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I'm sure Saturday will be no exception.”
England (vs South Africa, Saturday)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 13 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 67 caps)
11. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 37 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 64 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 95 caps) – captain
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 86 caps) – vice-captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 9 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 35 caps) – vice-captain
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 42 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 4 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 117 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 13 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 19 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 9 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps) – vice-captain
23. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
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Latest Comments
Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.
Go to commentsYes, probably why he still annoys me even now
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