ReportSpringboksThe Guardian Rugby30 Jun

Murley set to start on the wing as England target Ellis Park upset

Cadan Murley is set to start on the wing for England against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Tommy Freeman expected to retain the No 13 jersey, as England look to end a four-match losing run.

England are set to hand Cadan Murley a starting berth on the wing for Saturday's Nations Championship Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park. The 26-year-old Harlequins back, who started England's final two Six Nations matches against Italy and France, is expected to be used as an attacking weapon out wide, with the brief to run directly at the Springbok defence. Tommy Freeman appears likely to keep the No 13 jersey.

Murley's selection comes despite Manny Feyi-Waboso's return to fitness, which had raised the possibility of him dropping out of the matchday squad. England arrive at Ellis Park on a run of four consecutive Test defeats.

Sources

Tagged

Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener

South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.

ReportSpringboks

Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus

Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.

AnalysisSpringboks

Nations Championship Round 1: Boks set the benchmark, Japan turn heads

Louw's Nations Championship round-one review crowns the Boks as the weekend's benchmark-setters and flags Japan's Italy upset as the competition's first real surprise — while taking aim at the scheduling call that denies Japan a home fixture against Ireland.

AnalysisSpringboks

Watson: Kolbe is England's biggest headache — but Bok versatility is the real danger

Watson names Kolbe as England's biggest individual concern but argues the Boks' real edge is their ability to change tactical identity based on which fly-half starts — a flexibility that makes them uniquely hard to prepare for.

ReportSpringboks

Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks

Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.