Martin tasked with Itoje's boots
Steve Borthwick has turned to Saracens' new signing George Martin to anchor England's second row in the absence of skipper Maro Itoje as the visitors prepare for Saturday's Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park. Martin, who joined Saracens from Leicester, will partner Alex Coles in the engine room as England attempt to end a four-match losing streak against a Springbok side unbeaten at altitude since 2022.
The head coach has made five changes to the XV that fell 48-46 to France in the final round of the Six Nations, recalling George Furbank at full-back and Manny Feyi-Waboso on the wing. Furbank has not started since November 2024, while Feyi-Waboso missed the entire Six Nations through injury. Jack van Poortvliet has been preferred to Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer at scrum-half, with Ollie Chessum retained at blindside flanker to counter the Springboks' lineout and physicality.
Pollock overlooked as Curry returns
The most contentious selection sees Tom Curry restored to the starting back row ahead of Northampton's Henry Pollock, who drops to the bench alongside Guy Pepper. Pollock had been tipped by some observers to start after an impressive domestic campaign, but Borthwick has instead backed the experience of Curry and Ben Earl in the loose trio. Jamie George will captain the side, with Chessum and Ellis Genge serving as vice-captains.
"Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we're excited to embrace," said Borthwick. "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."
Historical weight and forward momentum
England have not won at Ellis Park since 1972, a half-century drought that underscores the scale of the task facing Borthwick's reshaped side. The match marks the opening round of the new Nations Championship format, with fixtures against Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium and Argentina in Santiago del Estero to follow in the coming weeks. The selection of Furbank and Feyi-Waboso suggests an intent to inject pace and attacking width, but the outcome will likely hinge on whether Martin and Coles can hold their own against the Springbok set-piece at altitude.
With Marcus Smith named among the replacements and Fin Smith starting at fly-half, Borthwick has options to shift the tempo if the opening exchanges favour the hosts. The bench also includes Charlie Ewels and Luke Cowan-Dickie, providing cover across the tight five. Whether the blend of youth and experience can arrest England's losing run will become clear on Saturday afternoon in Johannesburg.