Planet Rugby breaks down Borthwick's England squad for the Ellis Park clash through a winners-and-losers lens, and the selection tells a fairly clear story. On the positive side, Cadan Murley finally gets his shot against top-tier opposition after years of prolific club form, while Furbank's recall over Steward — combined with Marcus Smith off the bench — signals a deliberate shift toward a more attack-minded backline. Jack van Poortvliet gets a rare starting opportunity with Mitchell sidelined, and George Martin's inclusion at lock could prove significant given Itoje's absence. Tom Curry's return after his Lions tour is framed as meaningful beyond just selection, given the history between him and the Springboks since 2023.
The losers make for equally interesting reading. George Ford is once again squeezed out, this time without even a bench spot, with Fin Smith now occupying the role Ford has spent his career fighting for. Ben Spencer's omission from the 23 raises tactical questions around how Borthwick sees the Smith-at-10 system working. Ted Hill's continued exclusion despite outstanding Bath form is presented as genuinely baffling. And Steward's fall from nailed-on first-choice to outside the matchday squad altogether underlines how quickly the full-back picture has shifted — with a World Cup on the horizon, the piece suggests his window may be narrowing fast.