Preview: England vs South Africa
Everything you need to know ahead of England's Autumn Nations Series fixture against South Africa.
Manu Tuilagi is set to earn his 50th cap this weekend as he lines up in the centres with captain Owen Farrell.
Elsewhere, Tommy Freeman starts on the right wing for the first time this autumn, with Jonny May and Freddie Steward making up the back three.
The familiar half back pairing of Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith will start the game while, in the forwards, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George have been drafted into the starting lineup. Kyle Sinckler retains his position at tighthead prop as Alex Coles comes in on the flank alongside Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola. Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill are the lock pairing.
Named as finishers, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart provide front-row cover. David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell are also named in the 23 to face the Springboks.
TEAMS
England
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Owen Farrell (C), 11. Jonny May, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Jack van Poortvliet, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Alex Coles, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. David Ribbans, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Ben Youngs, 22. Henry Slade, 23. Jack Nowell
South Africa
15. Willie le Roux, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Faf de Klerk, 1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Marvin Orie, 6. Siya Kolisi (C), 7. Franco Mostert, 8. Evan Roos
Replacements
16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Marco van Staden, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Canan Moodie.
VIEWS FROM CAMP
Eddie Jones: "There is some change in some positions this week, but we name a squad of 23 so as far I'm concerned that's all we're looking at. There's some difference in starting and finishing depending on how we think the game is going to go, Tommy Freeman has come in and Jack [Nowell] will finish for us.
"We were pleased with Jack last week but we feel that Tommy is coming into some form, got good pace and he'll bring something to the team.
"We're playing the world champions and they're the world champions for a reason. They're a good, tough side, they compete hard at the key contest areas, they go hard at the set piece and in the air so we've got to make sure we keep our concentration in all those areas.
"When we get opportunities to attack them we've got to be executing our plays. It's an important game and we want to light up Twickenham again. The response from the fans last week was fantastic. I don't think I've ever experienced an atmosphere like that so we want to do that again and give them a great experience."
Jonny May: "This is a very different team to 2019. We're trying to play a little bit differently, have more strings to our bow and have an adaptability about our game. We want to be a team that is adaptable, to have the traditional values of English rugby but be a smart adaptable team that can change and play in a slightly different way.
"For me coming into this campaign, my understanding of where I need to be and what's required of me has got a little bit better each week and the team has got a little bit better each week. Everybody wants to see England playing attacking rugby and scoring tries, and we need to have that ability, but there are lots of things within a complete game that we're working on."
Mako Vunipola: "Most international teams now have two packs that can play 80 minutes. South Africa have shown that in the past so we know that the challenge ahead is going to be a massive one. It's about us now and focusing on what we can do on getting ready for the challenge.
"My job doesn't really change, I'm just playing from the start. Against South Africa we know that the challenge starts up-front with the set piece and for myself at scrum time against one of the best scrums in international rugby. It's a great challenge and as a player you have a choice to either walk towards that or turn away, and I'm looking forward to it, but it's going to take an all-eight effort.
"We can expect an attritional battle, the ball might be stuck in the middle of the scrum for 15-20 seconds, so your mindset has to be ready for long scrums. In the lineout you know the threat of the maul so your mindset has to be spot on for that. We've got our detail in terms of how we want to defend it or how we want to scrum against them but if your mind isn't in the game it doesn't really count."
"We're excited about what's ahead of us and we're looking forward to going out there and testing ourselves."
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
2018: South Africa 23-12 England
2018: South Africa 10-25 England
2018: England 12-11 South Africa
2019: England 12-32 South Africa
2021: England 27-26 South Africa
STATS
England have won three of their last four Test matches against South Africa, including their most recent clash (27-26 in November 2021).
South Africa won their most recent Test match (63-21 v Italy) after losing two in a row previously.
England have averaged more 22 entries per match than any other team in this year’s Autumn Nations Series (11.7).
England’s Owen Farrell is one of just two players to have scored from 100% of his place-kick attempts in this year’s Autumn Nations Series.
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
