George Furbank will make his first appearance for England in nearly two years when the team faces South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday, marking the opening match of the Nations Championship.
Furbank has been named at fullback, with Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso completing the back three. Tommy Freeman and Seb Atkinson will form the centre partnership. In the forwards, George Martin will start in the second row alongside Alex Coles, making his first England start since the 2025 Six Nations. Ollie Chessum is positioned on the blindside flank.
Henry Pollock, who earned back-to-back man-of-the-match awards during Northampton's recent Premiership title victory, is listed among the replacements.
Head coach Steve Borthwick expressed the team's anticipation for the match, stating, "Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we're excited to embrace."
With regular captain Maro Itoje being rested and not part of the tour, Jamie George will lead the team from the hooker position. He is part of an experienced front row alongside props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. Ben Earl and Tom Curry will play in the back row, while Jack van Poortvliet will start at scrum-half, partnering fly-half Fin Smith.
The full starting lineup for England is: Furbank at fullback; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Atkinson, and Murley in the back line; F Smith and Van Poortvliet as the half-backs; Genge, George, and Heyes in the front row; Coles and Martin in the second row; and Chessum, Curry, and Earl in the back row.
Replacements include Cowan-Dickie, Obano, Opoku-Fordjour, Ewels, Pepper, Pollock, Mitchell, and M Smith.