Steve Borthwick names his England team to play South Africa as they look to bounce back from consecutive defeats against Australia and New Zealand.
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Jamie George will once again captain England, with four vice-captains providing support: Maro Itoje, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, and George Ford.
The front row will see George start at hooker, with Genge at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead. In the second row, Itoje is partnered with George Martin. The back row features Chandler Cunningham-South on the blindside, Sam Underhill at openside, and Ben Earl at No. 8.
In the half-backs, scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet teams up with Marcus Smith at fly-half. The midfield sees Henry Slade at inside centre and Ollie Lawrence continuing at outside centre for a second consecutive game.
The back three sees Tommy Freeman on the right wing, Sleightholme on the left, and Freddie Steward selected at full-back to complete the starting lineup.
Among the replacements, Tom Roebuck is named for the first time this autumn, alongside Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, and George Ford.
Scroll down to see the England team to play South Africa.
How to Watch England vs South Africa
It’s set to be a blockbuster clash! Kick-off is scheduled for 5.40pm, and fans in the UK can catch all the action live on TNT Sports.
Need a TNT Subscription? Here’s the Deal
If you don’t have a TNT subscription, a monthly pass for £30.99 is your ticket to every Autumn International game in November, plus domestic matches shown on the channel. This is the first year TNT Sports has secured rights to the Autumn Internationals, taking over from Sky Sports.
Where Else to Watch?
- South Africa: Tune in to SuperSport to catch the game live.
- United States: Stream every moment on Peacock.
England Searching for Redemption
With two games remaining in the Autumn Nations Series, England are desperate for a victory after back-to-back, nail-biting defeats at Twickenham.
Two Defeats to Start
Last weekend, England fell to a 42-37 defeat against Australia. The game was a thriller, featuring five tries from both sides. England’s scores came courtesy of Chandler Cunningham-South (2), Ollie Sleightholme (2), and Maro Itoje. However, Max Jorgensen’s last-gasp try secured a dramatic win for the Wallabies.
BORTHWICK SAID:
“We’re excited to challenge ourselves against the world’s top-ranked team and back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions,” said Borthwick.
“Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I’m sure Saturday will be no exception.”
England team to play South Africa:
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 13 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 67 caps)
11. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 37 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 64 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 95 caps) – captain
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 86 caps) – vice-captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 9 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 35 caps) – vice-captain
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 42 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 4 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 117 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 13 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 19 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 9 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps) – vice captain
23. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
Editors picks:
- Statement: Scotland star BANNED following controversial red card
- England rugby star reveals how he proposed to Alan Shearer’s daughter
- Steve Borthwick told to axe 96-cap star ‘booed’ by England fans at the weekend
- Joe Marler Has Ally McCoist Crying with Laughter After Another Hilarious Dig at the Haka
The proud Rugby WAGs who’ll cheer on England this Autumn – including model, clothing store owner and restauranteur
When England’s Rugby team clashes with New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series opener, all eyes won’t just be on the players.
Off the field, the players’ wives and girlfriends (rugby WAGs) are a source of strength and style, with a few glamorous details of their own.
Katie George – Jamie George’s Partner in Life
Katie and Jamie George have been a power couple for years. The Saracens hooker wed Katie in 2020 after six years of dating, with teammate Elliot Daly standing as best man. Their love story is a strong one, showing a deep bond and unwavering support for each other.
Mimi Fall – Maro Itoje’s Fiancée
The towering Maro Itoje recently put a ring on it! The 30-year-old popped the question on a holiday to Nigeria, and his now-fiancée, Mimi Fall, said yes.
Known for being private, Maro shared the news with fans through Mimi’s Instagram, where England teammate Marcus Smith was quick to congratulate the happy couple.
Mimi is not only a model but also an artist, and she and Maro first met while modelling together.
Megan Slade – Henry Slade’s Wife and Businesswoman
Henry Slade and his wife, Megan, tied the knot in 2022, and they share two beautiful children.
Megan runs a children’s fashion line, Olive & Bud, known for high-quality basics with soft, earthy color palettes, co-founded with another new mum.
This Devon-based brand is gaining popularity, and Megan is as hands-on in her business as she is with her family.
Atdhetare Hoxha – George Ford’s Resilient Partner
England fly-half George Ford is riding high in life, not only on the field but also at home, with his wife Atdhetare and their new baby.
Atdhetare has an inspiring journey, arriving in the UK as a child refugee from Kosovo. Driven by passion, she opened her own Italian restaurant, Sorella, in Saddleworth in 2020, bringing her love for food to life after overcoming a challenging past.
Her resilience is a source of strength for George.
Beth Dolling – Marcus Smith’s Glamorous Girlfriend
The Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith has been dating model and singer Beth Dolling since 2019, and the pair regularly give fans a glimpse into their romance on social media.
Beth, who’s worked with M MODELS MANAGEMENT and appeared in campaigns for PrettyLittleThing, has over 35,000 followers on Instagram.
She’s also an aspiring singer, sharing clips of her vocals on a separate Instagram account, described simply as “Just some girl that likes to sing.”
