England head coach Steve Borthwick has made five changes to the starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park, with Saracens' new signing George Martin and Leicester's Jack van Poortvliet handed starting roles.
Martin Replaces Injured Itoje
Martin, who recently joined Saracens from Leicester, fills the second-row void left by captain Maro Itoje, who is absent. Van Poortvliet is preferred at scrum-half over Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer. George Furbank and Manny Feyi-Waboso also return, replacing Elliot Daly and Tom Roebuck respectively. Tom Curry starts at flanker ahead of Guy Pepper and Henry Pollock.
Back Row Selection
Despite calls for Northampton's Pollock to start, Borthwick has opted for the experience of Curry and Ben Earl. Pollock and Pepper are named among the replacements. Ollie Chessum retains the No. 6 jersey to counter South Africa's physicality and lineout threats.
Attacking Intent
Furbank makes his first start since November 2024, while Feyi-Waboso returns from injury after missing the Six Nations. England have lost their last four Tests and last won at Ellis Park in 1972. Borthwick said: 'Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we're excited to embrace. We've prepared well since we arrived here last week and I sense a real excitement within the squad to get our Nations Championship campaign under way.'
Upcoming Fixtures
After the South Africa Test, England will face Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium before traveling to Santiago del Estero to play Argentina on 18 July.
England team to face South Africa: Furbank (Harlequins); Feyi-Waboso (Exeter); Freeman (Northampton), Atkinson (Gloucester), Murley (Harlequins); F Smith (Northampton), Van Poortvliet (Leicester); Genge (Bristol Bears), George (Saracens, capt), Heyes (Leicester), Coles (Northampton), Martin (Saracens), Chessum (Leicester), T Curry (Sale), Earl (Saracens). Replacements: Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Obano (Bath), Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Ewels (Bath), Pepper (Bath), Pollock (Northampton), Mitchell (Northampton), Smith (Harlequins).
