George Furbank starts as England face Springboks

George Furbank will make his first England start since 2024 after being named at full-back for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park.

George Furbank Starts For England

Furbank returns to the England starting XV after last featuring in the November 2024 win over Japan. His selection comes after Freddie Steward was ruled out through injury, opening the door for the Northampton Saints back to start in Johannesburg.

England face the world champion Springboks in one of the standout opening fixtures of the new Nations Championship, with Steve Borthwick making five changes from the side beaten 48-46 by France in their final Six Nations match in March.

Henry Pollock Named On England Bench

Henry Pollock remains among the replacements despite strong domestic form for Northampton Saints. The 21-year-old had been pushing for a second Test start, but Tom Curry and Ben Earl have been preferred in the back row.

Curry returns to the starting side, while George Martin replaces rested captain Maro Itoje in the second row. Jamie George will captain England in Itoje’s absence, with the hooker leading a side facing one of rugby’s toughest away assignments.

England Team Changes For Springboks Test

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns on the wing, while Jack van Poortvliet starts at scrum-half. Borthwick said England had prepared well since arriving in South Africa and that the squad was excited to begin its Nations Championship campaign.

"Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we're excited to embrace.

"We've prepared well since we arrived here last week and I sense a real excitement within the squad to get our Nations Championship campaign underway."

England XV: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Alex Coles, 5 George Martin, 6 Ollie Chessum, 7. Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl.

Reserves: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Marcus Smith.