Danny Cipriani will make a long awaited return to the England starting line-up against South Africa this weekend. He is one of three changes, alongside his Wasps teammate Nathan Hughes and Quins’ Joe Marler.
England squad:
15 Elliot Daly
14 Jonny May
13 Henry Slade
12 Owen Farrell (captain)
11 Mike Brown
10 Danny Cipriani
9 Ben Youngs
1 Joe Marler
2 Jamie George
3 Kyle Sinckler
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Chris Robshaw
7 Tom Curry
8 Nathan Hughes
Replacements
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Harry Williams
19 Jonny Hill
20 Mark Wilson
21 Sam Simmonds
22 Ben Spencer
23 Denny Solomona
Jones names an inexperienced bench that includes an all-Exeter front row, plus Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds. George Ford drops out of the squad entirely.
Elsewhere Brad Shields drops out through illness, so Chris Robshaw returns at blindside flanker.
South Africa
South Africa have also changed their fly-half, with Elton Jantjies replacing Handré Pollard as one of five changes to the starting XV. There is also space on the bench for Schalk Brits who has temporarily come out of retirement.
15. Warrick Gelant
14. S’Busiso Nkosi
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Aphiwe Dyantyi
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Faf de Klerk
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle
3. Frans Malherbe
4. RG Snyman
5. Franco Mostert
6. Siya Kolisi (Captain)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Duane Vermeulen
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Thomas du Toit
19. Jean-Luc du Preez
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
21. Embrose Papier
22. Handré Pollard
23. Willie le Roux
South Africa lead the series two-nil, and will hunt as a pride for the series clean-sweep. It will be testimony to the England Lionhearted spirit, if this 2018 side can redeem themselves….not only for their coaches sake, but for the prospects of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Main image credit:
Embed from Getty Images
