The XV England need to beat South Africa on Saturday – Andy Goode
England haven’t won at Ellis Park for 46 years but if they’re to make history with a first series win in South Africa, they have to make a strong start and Eddie Jones has to get his team selection right straight from the off.
The quad injury Ben Te’o suffered in training last month means captain Owen Farrell will have to start at inside centre rather than flyhalf but there are a lot of question marks elsewhere, particularly in the backline and back row, and this is what I’d do if I were in his shoes.
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My England XV to face South Africa in the 1st Test at Ellis Park on Saturday
15 Elliot Daly
Has made 12 of his 13 Test starts on the wing, with the other at centre, and hasn’t started at full back for Wasps since 2013/14 but has the skillset to make the England number 15 jersey his own and could interchange with Anthony Watson between wing and fullback when he’s back fit, adding an extra string to England’s bow.
14 Denny Solomona
Has translated his exceptional rugby league try-scoring record into union seamlessly and scored six tries in three games for Sale before a ban ruled him out of the latter stages of the season. Still question marks in defence but deserves a chance to start and show what he can do.
13 Henry Slade
Eddie Jones has to get the midfield axis and balance right if England are to be successful. Alex Lozowski has been outstanding for Saracens at outside centre of late but Slade has played there more, has increased his physicality significantly and has all the tools necessary to excel there at international level. His left boot could prove useful too.
12 Owen Farrell
He toured South Africa with England as a young pup in 2012 but is an experienced head now with the captaincy to deal with as well – expect him to take that in his stride. He might have been starting at fly half If Ben Te’o had been fit but if England’s most important player can reproduce his recent Saracens performances for his country, we could be in for something special.
11 Jonny May
Four tries in his last four Tests and 12 tries in 20 games for Leicester, despite his club and country having disappointing campaigns, shows that he is in good form and his pace and finishing ability are perfect for South African conditions.
10 George Ford
Has had his critics and I’ve been one of them but Danny Cipriani hasn’t had a run in the side and Ben Te’o’s injury means Farrell has to start at inside centre. He’ll be targeted in defence but has the ability to cut the Springboks apart in attack if the forwards can get him on the front foot.
9 Ben Youngs
Has started more Tests than anyone else in the England number nine jersey and has a couple of uncapped men for competition on this tour. His experience and relationship with Ford will be vital and he’s still among the world’s best scrum halves in top form.
1 Mako Vunipola
He may have played 34 top level games in the past 12 months starting with the Lions tour but 15 carries and 21 tackles made without missing any in the Premiership final suggest he’s fit and firing. That performance against Exeter is among the best I’ve ever seen from a loosehead prop and he’ll be as important as ever if England are to win the series.
2 Jamie George
It’s amazing that he’s still started just two games in an England shirt but he’s been the country’s form hooker for the past couple of years and he’ll relish stepping out of Dylan Hartley’s shadow.
3 Kyle Sinckler
This would be just his second start in an England jersey and he’ll need to improve his discipline if he’s going to become first choice but has all the ability and should be a major plus in the loose on the hard ground in South Africa.
4 Maro Itoje
Another who’s had a long campaign after starring for the Lions a year ago but peaked at the right time with some dramatically improved performances for Saracens in their Premiership title run-in and looks to be back to his best. A menace at the breakdown again and carrying harder than ever now as well.
5 Joe Launchbury
Was one of the unluckiest men last summer when he missed out on selection for the Lions but stepped into a senior role with England in Argentina and has been among the most consistent performers in the country again over the past 12 months. Should start if he can overcome his current injury concern.
6 Brad Shields
The controversy has been widespread and public but England’s back row needs freshening up and he’s in the squad, so has to start for me. He brings leadership, something England badly need, and will improve the side.
7 Tom Curry
Won three turnovers against the Barbarians and was the standout English player that day. He did the same on his debut in Argentina last summer and may only be 19 years of age but he’s up to the test physically and offers that out and out openside option that England have been missing.
8 Billy Vunipola
Only Farrell rivals him in terms of importance to England. Keep him away from Aussie Rules balls and the nation will be crossing their fingers that his lengthy run of injuries is at an end. He didn’t train ahead of the Premiership final and still managed to make 17 carries and 17 tackles without missing any, so wrap him up in cotton wool and get him out on the pitch for the Tests as the Six Nations showed how much his power and ball-carrying prowess is missed.
Comments on RugbyPass
Chiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to comments