ENGLAND NAME MARTIN IN XV FOR SOUTH AFRICA TEST

England have made five changes to their starting XV for this weekend's match against South Africa at Ellis Park, according to the team announcement. George Martin of Saracens replaces the absent captain Maro Itoje in the second row. Jack van Poortvliet of Leicester starts at scrum-half ahead of Northampton's Alex Mitchell and Bath's Ben Spencer. George Furbank, Manny Feyi-Waboso and Tom Curry have also been recalled to the side following England's 48-46 defeat to France in the final round of the Six Nations.

Furbank will make his first start since November 2024, whilst Feyi-Waboso missed the recent Six Nations through injury. Henry Pollock of Northampton has been named on the bench at flanker, with Tom Curry preferred to start alongside Ben Earl in the back row. Ollie Chessum will again occupy the number 6 jersey as England seek to address their recent form, which includes four consecutive Test defeats. Head coach Steve Borthwick stated that the squad has prepared well since arriving in South Africa and expressed excitement about beginning the new Nations Championship campaign.

England are scheduled to face Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium following the South Africa match, before travelling to Santiago del Estero to play Argentina on 18 July. Borthwick described the Ellis Park fixture as "one of the great Tests in world rugby", noting that England's last victory at the venue came in 1972. The coach indicated he hopes the recalled players will provide additional attacking capability to a squad seeking to reverse its recent run of losses.