\n<\/p>\n
George Furbank will make his first England appearance in nearly two years in Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg.<\/b><\/p>\n
Furbank lines up in a back three with Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, with Tommy Freeman partnering Seb Atkinson at centre.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Henry Pollock, who won back-to-back man-of-the-match awards as Northampton won the Prem title, is among the replacements.<\/p>\n
“George Furbank has had so many little set-backs that would really test anybody’s character and resolve and he has come through it all,” said head coach Steve Borthwick. <\/p>\n
“While he might not have a huge number of caps at Test level, he is an experienced, calm head and such a top-quality rugby player.”<\/p>\n
All but one of Pollock’s 10 England appearances so far in his Test career have come off the bench, and Borthwick believes the 21-year-old’s athleticism can have a big impact in the latter stages of the match.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been really pleased so many times with what Henry Pollock has done off the bench for England,” Borthwick added. “I think when there’s a bit of fatigue and space in the game it really plays to Henry’s strengths. <\/p>\n
“We love his personality, his enthusiasm and his energy.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
England:<\/b> Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley: F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Curry, Earl<\/p>\n
Replacements<\/b>: Cowan-Dickie, Obano, Opoku-Fordjour, Ewels, Pepper, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith<\/p>\n<\/div>\n