England: Predicted team v Springboks as Steve Borthwick ‘pulls trigger’ after Wallabies debacle
Alex Lozowski, Sam Underhill and Freddie Steward could be called in for the clash against South Africa this weekend.
Steve Borthwick faces arguably one of his hardest challenges to date as England head coach, with his side currently stuck in a rut.
England have lost four games on the spin, and now prepare for the visit of back-to-back world champions South Africa to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Something needs to change in his squad, considering the manner of the losses to both New Zealand and Australia so far this month, and with the potential scalp of the Springboks on the line it could be the time to pull the trigger.
Borthwick has gone early with his selections this Autumn Nations Series, so we’ve taken a crack at naming our England 23 to take on South Africa this weekend.
15 Freddie Steward
This again seems a tad harsh on George Furbank, who was pretty steady against Australia without being exceptional, but Borthwick needs drastic change somewhere. Leicester Tigers man Freddie Steward had a pretty tough time of it in his previous England outing against the All Blacks, but he excelled in the World Cup clash against South Africa last year, and his skill under the high ball and counter-attacking ability could be a great weapon.
14 Ollie Sleightholme
Regular starter Immanuel Feyi-Waboso picked up a concussion in last weekend’s defeat, meaning Ollie Sleightholme should make his first start for England against the Springboks. He is another X-factor player who can create something from nothing and was in good touch on that wing last time out as he notched two tries.
13 Alex Lozowski
The midfield combination of Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence simply doesn’t work, so it might be time to detonate it. Alex Lozowski has been one of the form 13s in the Premiership this season, and has helped accelerate Saracens’ attacking transformation. It’s a tad harsh dropping Slade, but he missed five tackles against the Wallabies, which ultimately cost England the game.
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12 Ollie Lawrence
Borthwick likes having a powerful carrier at 12, and that’s why Ollie Lawrence keeps his spot in the team. The Bath man has been fairly solid in defence at 12, and often gets involved in the breakdown too, which will be needed against the imposing Springboks.
11 Tommy Freeman
He’s not having the greatest autumn thus far, but winger Tommy Freeman is a classy player when at his best. His skills in the air will also be a valuable asset, and will likely pile pressure on the likes of Aphelele Fassi in this department.
10 Marcus Smith
Head and shoulders England’s best player at the moment, and is a guaranteed starter against the Springboks. Hopefully, Borthwick gives him a full 80 this time too.
9 Ben Spencer
Looked pretty solid in his two outings so far, and seems to be building a decent partnership with Smith. His clever reading of the game will also be crucial in unpicking the aggressive South African defence.
8 Ben Earl
Needs a big game in all honesty, but there is no better time to remind people of your quality than the world champions. The Saracens man is an incredible player when on song, and will need to be at the peak of his powers this weekend if England want to win. He is also their leading ball carrier and his speed also makes him a huge threat in space too.
7 Sam Underhill
Another forced change here, as Sam Underhill slots in for the injured Tom Curry. The Bath man is the ultimate Test player, and always puts in a good performance for his country. He is potentially a touch short of minutes, but that’s never stopped him from excelling at Test level previously.
6 Chandler Cunningham-South
Seems to be getting better and better with each Test, and he was in very good touch against Australia. He took both of his tries well, but also gets heavily involved in the battle up front, which will be crucial against the Boks.
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5 George Martin
His proper breakthrough moment came when England last met South Africa, and he will need to have another huge game this weekend. Martin is quickly becoming Borthwick’s enforcer-in-chief and he really sets the tone in defence. His ability to make dominant tackles will be pivotal in neutralising the South African power game in the tight.
4 Maro Itoje
Despite the results, he has been in good form this autumn. His skills in the lineout will be important, but his experience and leadership will need to come to the fore more than ever if England want to close the game out.
3 Will Stuart
One of England’s most improved players this November, Will Stuart should keep his spot in the side. His scrummaging has come on so much in the past few months, but he faces his biggest challenge yet in the form of Ox Nche.
2 Jamie George
The England captain is another crucial leader in this side, and his work at the set-piece will be vital. He’s been accurate at the lineout and also brings some decent solidity to the scrum too.
1 Ellis Genge
The Bristol Bears man is such an explosive carrier of the ball, and this will be vital in the battle up front. He has also looked fairly solid in the scrum, but he faces an almighty battle this time around with either Thomas du Toit or Vincent Koch lying in wait.
Replacements
Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles, Ted Hill, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Furbank
You would imagine Borthwick would opt for a 6:2 split once again, given the threat posed by the ‘Bomb Squad’, but he will likely make a host of changes to his bench after last weekend. Trevor Davison, Alex Coles and new addition Ted Hill are all in very good domestic form and could be the spark the England boss has been after to reignite his stagnant bench. Elsewhere, Furbank takes a spot on the bench given he can cover multiple positions, including fly-half, but his arrival wouldn’t then push Smith out of position. Otherwise, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Alex Dombrandt and Harry Randall should keep their spots; but will need to take it up a gear.
