South Africa v England: George Furbank to start for first time in almost two years

George Furbank will make his first England appearance in nearly two years in Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Furbank lines up in a back three with Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, with Tommy Freeman partnering Seb Atkinson at centre.

In the forwards, George Martin makes his first England start since the 2025 Six Nations, joining Alex Coles in the second row with Ollie Chessum on the blindside flank.

Henry Pollock, who won back-to-back man-of-the-match awards as Northampton won the Prem title, is among the replacements.

“Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we’re excited to embrace,” said head coach Steve Borthwick.

With regular captain Maro Itoje rested and not on the tour, Jamie George leads from hooker and is part of an experienced front row alongside props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes.

Ben Earl and Tom Curry make up the back row, with Jack van Poortvliet getting the nod at number nine alongside fly-half Fin Smith.

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley: F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Curry, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Obano, Opoku-Fordjour, Ewels, Pepper, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith