Eddie Jones is braced for a bruising clash with South Africa with Ellie Genge’s set-piece struggles against New Zeland has forcing a rethink.
The England head coach hopes to shore up the scrum with Mako Vunipola and Jamie George, according to the Mail Online.
They’ve reported that ‘England will be desperate to shore up the scrum, which suffered against the All Blacks. Genge has been a talismanic figure this year but his set-piece struggle in the last outing appears to have forced a rethink.’
Surprisingly, Leicester rookie Jack van Poortvliet is set to keep his place at scrum-half while Henry Slade could also be set to start.
Social reaction to leaked XV
One fan said: “Great that Slade is starting, but why instead of Tuilagi? Play both,” while another commented: “What has Vunipola done to deserve a start over Ellis Genge?”
A third wrote: “Nowell and May are both in dreadful form, Jones still sticking to his favourites.”
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Leaked England XV to face South Africa:
Back-three:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
- 11. Jonny May (Gloucester)
Centre:
- 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- 12. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Owen Farrell Facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.