Gloucester Rugby centre Seb Atkinson is set to put on a standout performance for England as they face South Africa this Saturday at Ellis Park. With fierce competition for the number 12 jersey, Atkinson is eager to impress and solidify his place in the squad.
One of his main rivals, Bristol’s Benhard Janse van Rensburg, who has been part of the touring squad, will soon qualify for England after completing five years of residency. Van Rensburg has been a fixture in the Gallagher Premiership team of the season for the last three years, making him a formidable contender.
Bath’s Max Ojomoh is also back in consideration after a strong summer, including a Player of the Match award during England’s Autumn international against Argentina.
READ MORE: A Taste of the Mediterranean: LARDON Brings Holiday Vibes to the Cotswolds
READ MORE: Amazon Announces Workforce Changes Ahead of New Site Development Near M4 and M5
Notably, Cherry and Whites lock Arthur Clark is not included in the matchday 23.
The match against the Springboks marks the start of the inaugural Nations Championship. England’s squad is captained by Saracens hooker Jamie George, with Ollie Chessum serving as the vice-captain alongside Ellis Genge.
Head coach Steve Borthwick expressed enthusiasm about the challenge ahead: “Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby, and the squad is excited to kick off our Nations Championship campaign.”
After facing South Africa, England will host Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, followed by an away match against Argentina’s Los Pumas at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.
All Nations Championship games will be broadcast live on ITV Sport, with Saturday’s kickoff scheduled for 4:40pm.
England team to face South Africa:
15. George Furbank (Harlequins, 14 caps)
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 27 caps)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 4 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 6 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
- Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 80 caps) – vice-captain
- Jamie George (Saracens, 110 caps) – captain
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
- Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
- George Martin (Saracens, 21 caps)
- Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps) – vice-captain
- Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 68 caps)
- Ben Earl (Saracens, 51 caps)
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 58 caps)
17. Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 34 caps)
20. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
22. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 30 caps)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 50 caps)