England vs South Africa 16th November

England

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)


South Africa

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 9 caps, 30 points (6t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 38 caps, 101 points (16t, 3c, 5p)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 77 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 85 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps, 85 points (17t)
10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 18 caps, 94 pts (1t, 28c, 11p)
9 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 16 caps, 15 points (3t)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 32 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 85 caps, 55 points (11t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 90 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 38 caps, 10 points (2t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 129 caps, 30 points (6t)
3 – Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 0 points
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 76 caps, 75 points (15t)
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 38 caps, 0 points

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 74 caps, 105 points (21t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 59 caps, 0 points
19 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 11 caps, 0 points
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 50 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 37 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 78 caps, 767 points (7t, 108c, 167p, 5dg)
23 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 41 caps, 35 pts (7t)

Full back Freddie Steward and scrum half Jack Van Poortvliet will start England’s crunch match against South Africa as head coach Steve Borthwick makes four changes.

As Telegraph Sport revealed on Wednesday, Borthwick was leaning towards handing recalls to the Leicester pair with George Furbank and Ben Spencer both dropping out of the matchday 23.

Sam Underhill replaces Tom Curry at openside flanker while winger Ollie Sleightholme starts his first match coming in for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wing. Both Curry and Feyi-Waboso suffered concussions in the 42-37 defeat to Australia.

The trio of Steward, Van Poortvliet and Underhill have not been involved in the matchday squad until this point in the Autumn Nations Series. Van Poortvliet has not played for England since suffering an ankle ligament injury in a World Cup warm-up match against Wales that ruled him out of the tournament.

Steward was one of England’s strongest performers at the World Cup, starting in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa, however he was usurped by Furbank during the Six Nations. However a World Rugby directive asking referees to crack down on “escort” runners who block the path of attacking chaser has placed a premium upon his ability under the high ball.

Underhill, meanwhile, had started every match for England coming into the autumn but an ankle injury had limited his gametime for Bath. His hard-hitting tackling ability will be put to the test against the Springboks’ mammoth pack. Underhill packs down alongside Ben Earl and Chandler Cunningham-South, who is facing the Springboks for the first time.

The tight five remains unchanged with Jamie George captaining the side and Ellis Genge and Will Stuart primed to take on the Springboks up front.

Marcus Smith continues England’s starting fly-half with Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence remaining in their 12-13 combination. Tommy Freeman stays in the back three alongside Northampton teammate Sleightholme, who scored two tries off the bench against Australia, and Steward.

On the bench, winger Tom Roebuck provides back-three cover and could play his first England game at Twickenham after making his debut against Japan in the summer. England come into the game after four successive defeat and the bookmakers give them an eight-point handicap against the double world champions.

“We’re excited to challenge ourselves against the world’s top-ranked team and back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions,” Borthwick said. “Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I’m sure Saturday will be no different.”

Latest updates
Uche Amako
(Live Updates)
14 November 2024 1:30pm

1:30pm
BREAKING: England team to face 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)
1:27pm

Isiekwe, Cole, Dombrandt Ford still on the bench. Why?
Glad Martin made it. Imagine starting a game like this with Isiekwe vs Snyman.
Which reminds me, what is happening with Tuima?

Sleightholme and Underhill pretty obvious choices and good. JvP I can see why he's there.
Steward pragmatic choice and he deserves his chance although may miss Furbank pace.

Cannot for life of me get why Dombrandt, Isiekwe, Cole and Ford are on bench. Sorry, on bench yet again.

Oh well.

mountain man wrote:Sleightholme and Underhill pretty obvious choices and good. JvP I can see why he's there.
Steward pragmatic choice and he deserves his chance although may miss Furbank pace.

Cannot for life of me get why Dombrandt, Isiekwe, Cole and Ford are on bench. Sorry, on bench yet again.

Oh well.

Replacing Cole with Davison gives us nothing additional and in fact probably weakens us. Ditto Ford with F Smith to a certain extent.

Dombrandt and Isiekwe are very disappointing selections though. Ted Hill for either would have been preferable.

But it would at least give them Int experience and make at least some steps towards 6N and beyond. Slade as well?

To me this looks like a damage limitation selection rather than one to try and win.

Generally don't mind the starting XV (in so far as it's probably close to the best available, not for beating the reigning World Champions) - OK, Slade in the centre is never going to set the world alight, but do we have a better option both in terms of leafing the backline defence and offering some options as a second playmaker?

But, oh my God, the bench. LC-D is obviously fine, and Fin Baxter is getting a chance to develop, but Cole is surely older than me (and I was born in the Jurassic), Dombrandt and Isiekwe have had plenty of chances and never really shown the capability to perform at international level. I fear that when the replacements come on, a slight edge for the Boks will become a massacre.

From today's Guardian, Rassie explains England's selections (Just an excerpt):

Whatever else South Africa are expecting from England, it’s not a surprise. The Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus says they picked the team three weeks ago, during a training camp in Jersey. Nothing he’s seen in the way England played against New Zealand and Australia seems to have changed his mind. If anything, the two defeats only confirmed what he already suspected.

“You know, when you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or last-minute try, the pressure does start to build,” Erasmus said, “I’ve been there. I certainly know how quickly it can get to you. And when that happens you normally fall back on to what works for you.”

Which is why Erasmus believes England will revert to the same sort of gameplan they used in the World Cup semi-final last year. “We very much expect them to try to squeeze us with the kicking game.” He stopped short of naming Steve Borthwick’s team for him, the way he did before that World Cup match, but he did predict, with utmost confidence, that Borthwick would “definitely” pick Freddie Steward at full-back. Two hours later, Borthwick proved him right. England’s coach must feel like he’s been playing poker with a mirror over his shoulder.

Rassie in Today's Guardian

Wow, Slade's got 67 caps. He must be the most ineffectual 60+ cap player around in world rugby. Pleased to see Underhill back. Very unsure about JvP at 9, who hasn't looked good for England so far.

If England keep this to within 14, they'll have done well.

On the Times Ruck podcast, Courtney Lawes had a couple of observations on England. he thinks teh team is not far off but still has to nail its strategic identity.

He said the pack from 1-6 is massive, then Earl at number 8 is "a back with a forward's mindset", and Tom Curry at seven is busy all across the pitch. However, no-one, with the possible exception of Maro, is a real jackal threat.

Lawes thinks if you run the blitz defence, then you need an effective jackaller. It doesn't amtter if your blitz is knocking them down. It's when your massive pack gets slower over several phases, and the opposition spots a dog leg, and makes a half-break. A real jackal threat can get a turnover, or at least slow the ball down.

Lawes also wonders what the point of a massive pack is, if you don't use it to dominate set pieces, and use the maul. At the moment, Lawes thinks England are playing an open game which doesn't match the composition of the pack.

Lawes thinks Earl is undroppable at the moment but his selection "leaves quite a few roles to fill". After talking through some of the pack options, he concludes that England are really missing Chessum.

Duty281 wrote:Wow, Slade's got 67 caps. He must be the most ineffectual 60+ cap player around in world rugby. Pleased to see Underhill back. Very unsure about JvP at 9, who hasn't looked good for England so far.

If England keep this to within 14, they'll have done well.

Interesting. Slade is 2/3 of the way towards having 100 caps. 2/3 of the way to becoming a legend....

Duty281 wrote:Wow, Slade's got 67 caps. He must be the most ineffectual 60+ cap player around in world rugby. Pleased to see Underhill back. Very unsure about JvP at 9, who hasn't looked good for England so far.

If England keep this to within 14, they'll have done well.

He's not played for England in more than a year? Before that he was the defacto selection at 9. Breaking through on the tour to Australia were Care shat the bed and JvP played a real set of breakthrough performances. He suffered (amongst many) in the Jones last AI campaign. I think Mitchell has long since overtaken him but after Mitchell he's our best 9. Not sure letting him not play for 3 weeks then throw him in Vs the Boks is the best preparation but there you go.

Telegraph writers are split between a comfortable Boks victory, or narrow England win.

Gavin Mairs

England 19 South Africa 34
Really interesting team selections. South Africa going with Manie Libbok at fly-half, Aphelele Fassi at full-back and Grant Williams at scrum-half – plus a 5-3 bench – suggests running rugby at Twickenham. Maybe a reaction to all the ‘Bomb Squad’ chat. Might help England a bit. Steve Borthwick’s men need all the help they can get. Return of Freddie Steward pragmatic but difficult to see past a fifth-successive defeat.

Oliver Brown

England 20 South Africa 18
Under Borthwick, England have acquired a helpful habit of summoning a sterling performance when everybody least expects it. The consensus was that they would be marmalised by South Africa in the World Cup semi-final, but instead they adapted their style to lead for much of the match until Handre Pollard’s gut-wrenching late penalty. Likewise, their defeat at Murrayfield in this year’s Six Nations appeared to prefigure a shellacking by Ireland at Twickenham, only for Marcus Smith’s drop goal to shred the script. It might be absurdly optimistic, but the Springboks’ second-half struggles against Scotland suggest there are weaknesses for England to exploit as they chase a crucial win.

Tom Cary

England 18 South Africa 27
It feels like a free swing for England and the size of the challenge against the double world champions may yet bring the best out of Borthwick’s side. And yet looking at the raw data, it should be a comfortable victory for the Springboks. England have struggled more than most to adapt to the implication of the new crackdown on players ‘escorting’ – retreating players blocking those chasing to challenge high kicks – and against Australia their blitz defence malfunctioned alarmingly under pressure.

Borthwick’s kicking strategy almost pulled out a shock victory against the Springboks in the World Cup semi-final in Paris, but without the likes of Jonny May, do not have the same ability to compete in the air and South Africa have added layers to their own attacking game following the addition of Tony Brown. Most critically of all, it is hard to see England competing with the sheer power of the Springboks ‘Bomb Squad’ in the final quarter.

Charlie Morgan

England 15 South Africa 23
Borthwick should be expected to cause a reaction among his players, who must be hurting from the manner of their loss to the Wallabies, and England have picked a team to rule the air. Sam Underhill’s return can spur them, and a forecast of light rain suggests another leveller. Even so, the Springboks surely possess too much quality. Their starting back row, behind a lock partnership of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman, looks immense and their bench features Kwagga Smith and Pollard, two exceptional finishers. Given events of the autumn so far, it is hard to predict England escaping without conceding at least two scrum penalties.

Charles Richardson

England 22 South Africa 20
At Twickenham, with South Africa missing a few, and England’s autumn on the line; many fans might accuse me of blind optimism at best or virtual insanity at worst, but we have seen this team overturn greater odds in the face of greater adversity, with their backs to the wall. The selection looks bespoke to the challenge ahead which is undoubtedly a mighty one, but sometimes in sport it is the team who needs and wants it more that triumphs. England are in that boat. The worry, as ever, is the bench. England need a lead by 60 minutes and need, crucially, to hold it – for the first time in a while.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/11/15/england-south-africa-springboks-steve-borthwick-predictions/

Same as anyone, just an opinion and has zero bearing on result(obviously).

I always think score predictions pointless, pun intended as virtually never correct.

SA start as big favourites so I expect them to win. If England do pull off a victory it'll be a last gasp penalty in a very close game.

England aren't actually a bad team, but they are struggling to close out tight games and get results. But then again, the Boks are a very good team, who don't struggle to get the right result in tight contests and recently have been getting quite big wins against decent opposition.

Can only see a comfortable SA win unless we have a bit of luck (say an early red card or something similar).

but the Springboks’ second-half struggles against Scotland suggest there are weaknesses for England to exploit as they chase a crucial win.

Scotland got totally smashed up front the last 20 mins. I don't think england will the same way but have we really seen as much attacking intent and ability from England as Scotland have shown? If anything Scotland played a bit too fast and loose at times

I think a tight slugfest of a game and SA to win narrowly.

I would expect a South African win, but that means nothing. If England manages to shut down the Boks in the first forty and the errors keep piling up the Boks might just go nowhere.

Whilst Fassi is tall and exceptional under the high ball, and Kolbe and Rendse can hold their own, they might come under pressure from the tall back three from England, and we know how solid Freddie is under the high ball. Especially with the new anti shepherding laws that favours the chasing team.

So that could become a nightmare for SA if Smith and Van Poortvliet are accurate in their execution.

We have seen in the past the Springboks lose matches at Twickenham due to shoulder charges or something silly.

So I am never that confident.

Old Man wrote:
We have seen in the past the Springboks lose matches at Twickenham due to shoulder charges or something silly.

Given what we've seen in the last few games it'd be nice to see that sort of thing properly officiated.

What price a red card?

20 minutes.

Mr Bounce wrote:What price a red card?

In the current climate of international rugby, I think about 3-1 against is fair. Even if most of them are for acts of careless / reckless play rather than willful actions.

I just cant see anything other than a heavy SA win.

Then Japan will have the scent of blood....

The Boks are favourites, obviously. They're a terrific team. Even missing their RWC starting props in Kitshoff and Malherbe. The former is one of the most dynamic props in the game, particularly when factoring in defence, where Kitshoff is probably the standout even compared to the many excellent props currently in the game. Malherbe is the best scrummaging TH by a distance. Mostert is also missing in addition to Lood's sad long term absence. Huge losses for any side. SA are better set than any to cover it though. Their tight five depth remains ludicrous.

There are some really interesting matchups though.

Stuart vs Ox - Stuart has been improving for England IMO. Ox is the best scrummaging LH in the game though, the Boks front row have Etzebeth and Snyman behind them. It will be a good indication of where Stuart is.

Second row battle - Itoje and Martin stacked up really well here in the RWC semi-final. Itoje has been back to his very best in the last year I think. His defensive work rate is incredible in the loose. He's one of the best defensive lineout jumpers and maulers in the game. Etzebeth and Snyman start together for the first time. An incredible pairing. Etzebeth's form in the last few years genuinely puts him in the conversation with the best locks ever. This should be a really good battle.

Blitz vs Blitz - The first time that the Boks come up against the first team to copy that hyper aggressive defensive system they have mastered. It's going to be intriguing. Kolbe and Arendse are back for SA. They're incredible defensively in that system. Their work rate, decision making, covering of ground on the scramble and ruck work in Kolbe's case are sublime. Sleigtholme will be pressured here I think - I rate him highly, am intrigued to see how he goes. I could see the first half in particular being brutal with these two defensive systems firing up at each other.

Kicking game under the new laws - As said in my longer post earlier in the week, I think the laws around escort runners will have some unintended consequences in the short term. Chasers are now at a huge advantage for contestable kicks. Not only does the chasers not have to take it cleanly, being able to knock it back or just aim to disrupt the targeted receiver. Now they get a free path. Plus, even if the chaser loses the contest, any tackling players also have a free line to the receiver. I think we might see an increase in contestable box kicking, at the expense of kick tennis we've seen the last two years. In Will Jordan and Aphelele Fassi, we've now seen NZ and SA both use out and out fullback/wingers rather than second playmakers at 15. England have recalled Steward here. I'm really intrigued to see if this rule change has that sort of wider knock on effect on selection calls in the back three. Fullback was very much trending towards being a second fly-half. Could the escort runners clamp down slow that trend to some extent?

It's been an odd AIs for me. I've had a lot going on with work and life, it's been a tough time. I've only seen the rugby sporadically as a consequence. I watched the England-Australia game days after it, in about 5 different stints. I saw the England-NZ game during a break from work, whilst sorting some non work stuff on the same laptop as well as frequenting the match thread. I did see the full Ireland vs NZ game live. I'll again miss this England game live, try to catchup over my Monday and Tuesday of relative respite. Not watching many games live has put me in an odd place. I naturally haven't been as invested or bothered by results, but I've felt more engaged with the analysis side of things than I have for a long time.

International rugby feels in a really strong place just now though. SA, France and Ireland are in or around being as good as I've ever seen them - Ire maybe in some transition. NZ aren't nearly as good as the McCaw sides which were the best I've seen in rugby, but it's still a very good ABs side capable of magnificent things in attack. Argentina have plenty of stars and have beaten really good teams this year. Scotland are maybe transitioning out of a golden generation, but again, they aren't far from the best Scotland side I've seen. Fiji are an increasingly interesting between the Drua and their global stars - they were excellent at the RWC when they had an extended period together. Italy and Georgia are sides trying to evolve their games but also have some brilliant players - Niniashvili and Capuozzo at FB alone are wonderful, world class talents, whilst Lamaro and Gorgadze in the back rows are similar.

I'm in the camp of feeling England aren't miles away. They've had a brutal run. Ireland (H), France (A), Japan (A), NZ (A), NZ (A), NZ (H), Oz (H), SA (H). Japan aside, they've lost 5 of the last 6 by a score or less. Brutal, but still poor results. The Oz game being the most frustrating. To win the first 20 minutes comprehensively, then seemingly change from the game plan that was doing so is bizarre.

The forwards feel particularly close to a really good pack to me. Depth is needed, but I think it is emerging. Opoko-Fordjour and Fasogbon are great talents at prop. Pollock should be absolutely brilliant and add that depth they need behind Earl as a dynamic back row. My kingdom (which is f**k all to be fair) for Junior Kpoku to be lured to the Prem.

In the backs, Marcus is playing his best international rugby yet. The back three options are looking really good. Freeman, IFW and Sleightholme on the wings - with Arundell potentially returning the Prem apparently. That's a ton of youth and pace. Furbank and Steward at 15. Good options with so much potential to keep improving and tactical differences between them. Lawrence is settling into international rugby better than I felt he would - I'm a bit of a Lawrence sceptic but feel his Prem form warrants a run. Mitchell has been excellent at 9 too - such a shame he's injured. I think a proper physical presence in the midfield is a long way off though. That remains my perennial worry with the backs just now it feels.

Sleights....

Jeez, I wonder if Jamie George thinks the game is over now?

Nice start from England. Bit edgy from South Africa, but think we're seeing an early taste of their scrum power, with Genge in a bit of trouble at the first two.

That try was right through the defense. At least two players whiffed on the tackle.

Yeah, Steward won't want to watch it back, especially as he conceded the penalty that led to it.

Smith kicks England back in front.

Wow, that's even worse.

JVP isn't an international 9.

For christ sake, that ball could have bounced anywhere, couldn't have bounced any kinder for them.

All Marcus needed to do was tuck it up. Support was there.

This contact is brutal. There are going to be a lot of tired and bruised bodies. One side or the other will be gassed.

Buckle up, it might get ugly. England can't live with this intensity.

offside for the chargedown for me ....

Duty281 wrote:Wow, that's even worse.

JVP isn't an international 9.

Eben is offside. TMO is Whitehouse so expect nothing close to competency.

The pace at the ruck in attack is the best we've had all AIs so far.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Wow, that's even worse.

JVP isn't an international 9.

Eben is offside. TMO is Whitehouse so expect nothing close to competency.

The pace at the ruck in attack is the best we've had all AIs so far.

Ah Whitehouse - we were never getting that call then ...

We're looking really good in attack, it is the defence that is letting us down again.

He was offside from the charge down again!

Ball was out, it's not offside, Healy is a moron. Same thing happened in the Ireland game last night although without the charge down. The scrumhalf is rolling the ball beyond the back foot of the ruck.

Cumbrian wrote:He was offside from the charge down again!

And they were offside at the restart - where are the officials looking?

Cumbrian wrote:He was offside from the charge down again!

Wasn't even close. Not sure what the touch judge is playing at.

Stop kicking the damn ball away in attacking positions!

Stupid kick

Heaf wrote:Stupid kick

Ruined the knock on advantage. Just play a bit.

Clearly part of the Springbok strategy is to pressure JvP. Unfortunately, it's working.

Two pointless kicks in a row - they are looking good ball in hand why kick it away

That's wonderful from Steward, brilliant catch and chip, so unlucky that it didn't result in a try

Genge is struggling in the scrum

Every scrum will be a pen for SA now - so frustrating

Heaf wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:He was offside from the charge down again!

And they were offside at the restart - where are the officials looking?

Not sure reffing team have 20:20 vision. Pretty embarrassing misses from the men in the middle.

We need to develop some props who can feckin scrum!
We need to sort the centres out
We need a feckin 6'10 giant in there !