Head coach Eddie Jones selects England team to play South Africa at Twickenham this weekend with a number of big changes.
Manu Tuilagi will make his 50th appearance for England at outside centre, having made his debut for England against Wales in August 2011. Owen Farrell will again captain the side at inside centre.
Marcus Smith is at fly half and Jack van Poortvliet is at scrum half. Tommy Freeman comes in at right wing, Jonny May is at left wing and Freddie Steward is full back.
Jamie George (hooker) and Mako Vunipola join fellow prop Kyle Sinckler in two changes to the starting front row. Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill stay at lock. Alex Coles comes in at flanker with Tom Curry, while Billy Vunipola is No.8.
Last weekend’s double-try scorer Will Stuart is named as a finisher along with Luke Cowan-Dickie, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, Henry Slade and vice-captains Ellis Genge and Jack Nowell.
Social reactions:
One fan wrote: "What’s our obsession with playing only 2/3 specialist backrow players? Curry 6 Willis 7 thank me later,"
A second commented: "Like it apart from Genge not starting."
Another wrote: "Wake me up when it’s all over."
Eddie Jones said:
"This is our last game of the autumn and our chance to continue building on the improvements we have made throughout the matches," said Jones.
"We have made steady progress from game-to-game, culminating in a pulsating draw against New Zealand.
"Now we have the chance to test ourselves against the might of the world champions. We’re going out there to light the crowd up. The support at Twickenham was outstanding last week and we want to work hard on the pitch to make sure we have another atmosphere like that again on Saturday."
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England team to play South Africa:
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
Every Premiership Rugby sides marquee players and their reported salary
Bath RFC: None (was previously Taulupe Faletau)
Bristol Bears: Charles Piutau - £1,000,000 per season
Exeter Chiefs: Stuart Hogg - £500,000
Gloucester: Adam Hastings - £450,000
Adam Hastings of Gloucester Rugby kicks the conversion during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm on 28 October. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Harlequins: André Esterhuizen - £420,000
Andre Esterhuizen of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership match between Harlequins and Leicester Tigers at Twickenham Stoop, London on 16 October 2022 (Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK)
Leicester Tigers: Handre Pollard - £600,000
London Irish: Paddy Jackson - £500,000
Paddy Jackson of London Irish kicks for goal during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Newcastle Falcons at The Brentford Community Stadium, London on December 04 2021 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
Newcastle Falcons: Unknown
Northampton Saints: None (was previously Dan Biggar)
Sale Sharks: George Ford - £450,000
Saracens: Owens Farrell - £750,000
Owen Farrell (c) of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK
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.
