England coach Stuart Lancaster has handed two players their debuts against the Springboks this Saturday, with prop Joe Marler and flank Tom Johnson starting their first games in the White jersey, while Brad Barritt and Mouritz Botha will face their country of birth for the first time.
The team sees four changes from the last test they played, against Ireland in the Six Nations, and with Lancaster now in control permanently (he was caretaker coach during the Six Nations), has made minimal changes to his side.
Ben Youngs is back as first choice scrumhalf, partnering Owen Farrell in the all-important halfback combination, while flanker Chris Robshaw continues to captain the side. The Springboks may have the better of the English in the scrums, but their backline looks potent on attack as well as being defensively strong. The midfield combination of Barritt and New Zealand born Manu Tuilagi can cause havoc.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler
Substitutes: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Paul Doran Jones, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Jonathan Joseph
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Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Tom Johnson, Mouritz Botha, Dylan Hartley, Lee Dickson
What do they have in common?
Nice backline, hard working forwards ,not going to be easy.
Frans Steyn needs to put a lot of pressure on Owen Farrell. Owen’s game will fall apart if the Barbarians game is anything to go by.
@Die Kriek (Comment 1) : They all play for the Saracens?
Just guessing.
What does Mike Brown, Brad Barritt, Ben Foden, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling have in common?
@Die Kriek (Comment 1) : Or maybe all of them weren’t born in England?
We underestimate this England side at our peril. I hope we learned something from the JWC game of the Baby Boks.
@rhineshark (Comment 7) : And from the Sharks vs Lions, given that the Sharks have provided the bulk of the team…
@Culling Song (Comment 8) : I was trying to forget that game. Thanks dude!
@rhineshark (Comment 9) : I’d have thought you’d have learnt not to watch the “easy games”…
all born in another country.
@Culling Song (Comment 10) : Can´t help watching. Like an accident on the highway…
@rhineshark (Comment 12) : Thankfully I’ve moved beyond that. Hard work, but worth the effort. I’m a much happier person, much less probe to bouts of aggression and/or depression…
@Culling Song (Comment 13) :
but wait…..there is always Saturday!!
@Culling Song (Comment 13) : I´m also much better of late. I used to be impossible to speak to for an entire weekend after such a pathetic performance. Lately, I am OK by Sunday afternoon.
@Ben (Comment 6) : Bullsey, 6/22 were not born in England, 2 Saffas, a Samoan, a Kiwi, and, surprisingly, two Germans
@Die Kriek (Comment 16) : Germans?
@Die Kriek (Comment 16) : Got a answer to comment #5?
this is gonna be awesome!!!!!!! at one stage frans steyn and brad barritt competed for the #12 jersey for the sharks, now they are playing against each other for two different countries.
@Ben (Comment 18) : All Sarries?
@Ben (Comment 17) : Tom Johnson and Lee Dickenson were both born in Germany
@Die Kriek (Comment 20) : Nope. The answer is…. ‘Absolutely nothing’!
@Ben (Comment 22) :
Must say me being a current Kearsney boy I’m proud to see Barritt playing for England! Still supporting the Boks all the way tho… Also is Matt Stevens still in the Eng squad? Englands looking like the second home for Kearsney pupils
@KC_Sharks (Comment 24) : Stevens was ruled out ahead of the tour due to injury
Kom Fransie; wys vir Brad wie’s die baas!
@robdylan thanks:) one less South African playing for England! I think they must stop poaching our players….
Well their cricket team got to number one in the world using foreigners, maybe their rugby union is trying the same.
@Big Fish (Comment 26) : I hope Brat has excellent game in a loosing battle
OK, so ill be chatting with myself
Hey see its starting to rain in durbs, and the temp is dropping….
Okay, let’s do this Bokke!