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  • Live match centre for England v South Africa 26 November 2022.
    Key match events
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      England Men

      25 Nov 2022 | 6 min |

      Preview: England vs South Africa

      Everything you need to know ahead of England's Autumn Nations Series fixture against South Africa.

      Manu Tuilagi is set to earn his 50th cap this weekend as he lines up in the centres with captain Owen Farrell.

      • Manu's Most Memorable Matches
      • Simmonds set for Springboks showdown

      Elsewhere, Tommy Freeman starts on the right wing for the first time this autumn, with Jonny May and Freddie Steward making up the back three. 

      The familiar half back pairing of Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith will start the game while, in the forwards, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George have been drafted into the starting lineup. Kyle Sinckler retains his position at tighthead prop as Alex Coles comes in on the flank alongside Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola. Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill are the lock pairing.

      • Win a signed Ellis Genge shirt - Enter
      • Famous Fixtures: England vs South Africa
      BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: David Ribbans of England runs with the ball during an England Training Session at Pennyhill Park on November 22, 2022 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
      Castore home kit launch - Marcus Smith and Chandler Cunningham-South pose in the new England kit
      England XV vs France XV tickets advert

      Named as finishers, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart provide front-row cover. David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell are also named in the 23 to face the Springboks.

      TEAMS

      England

      15. Freddie Steward, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Owen Farrell (C), 11. Jonny May, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Jack van Poortvliet, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Alex Coles, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Billy Vunipola

      Finishers

      16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. David Ribbans, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Ben Youngs, 22. Henry Slade, 23. Jack Nowell

      South Africa

      15. Willie le Roux, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Faf de Klerk, 1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Marvin Orie, 6. Siya Kolisi (C), 7. Franco Mostert, 8. Evan Roos

      Replacements

      16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Marco van Staden, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Canan Moodie.

      VIEWS FROM CAMP

      Eddie Jones: "There is some change in some positions this week, but we name a squad of 23 so as far I'm concerned that's all we're looking at. There's some difference in starting and finishing depending on how we think the game is going to go, Tommy Freeman has come in and Jack [Nowell] will finish for us. 

      "We were pleased with Jack last week but we feel that Tommy is coming into some form, got good pace and he'll bring something to the team. 

      "We're playing the world champions and they're the world champions for a reason. They're a good, tough side, they compete hard at the key contest areas, they go hard at the set piece and in the air so we've got to make sure we keep our concentration in all those areas.

      BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22:  Eddie Jones, the England head coach looks on during the England training session held at Pennyhill Park on November 22, 2022 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

      "When we get opportunities to attack them we've got to be executing our plays. It's an important game and we want to light up Twickenham again. The response from the fans last week was fantastic. I don't think I've ever experienced an atmosphere like that so we want to do that again and give them a great experience." 

      Jonny May: "This is a very different team to 2019. We're trying to play a little bit differently, have more strings to our bow and have an adaptability about our game. We want to be a team that is adaptable, to have the traditional values of English rugby but be a smart adaptable team that can change and play in a slightly different way. 

      "For me coming into this campaign, my understanding of where I need to be and what's required of me has got a little bit better each week and the team has got a little bit better each week. Everybody wants to see England playing attacking rugby and scoring tries, and we need to have that ability, but there are lots of things within a complete game that we're working on."

      LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Jonny May of England runs with the ball during the Autumn International match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium on November 19, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

      Mako Vunipola: "Most international teams now have two packs that can play 80 minutes. South Africa have shown that in the past so we know that the challenge ahead is going to be a massive one. It's about us now and focusing on what we can do on getting ready for the challenge.

      "My job doesn't really change, I'm just playing from the start. Against South Africa we know that the challenge starts up-front with the set piece and for myself at scrum time against one of the best scrums in international rugby. It's a great challenge and as a player you have a choice to either walk towards that or turn away, and I'm looking forward to it, but it's going to take an all-eight effort. 

      "We can expect an attritional battle, the ball might be stuck in the middle of the scrum for 15-20 seconds, so your mindset has to be ready for long scrums. In the lineout you know the threat of the maul so your mindset has to be spot on for that. We've got our detail in terms of how we want to defend it or how we want to scrum against them but if your mind isn't in the game it doesn't really count."

      "We're excited about what's ahead of us and we're looking forward to going out there and testing ourselves."

      PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

      2018: South Africa 23-12 England

      2018: South Africa 10-25 England

      2018: England 12-11 South Africa

      2019: England 12-32 South Africa

      2021: England 27-26 South Africa

      STATS

      England have won three of their last four Test matches against South Africa, including their most recent clash (27-26 in November 2021).

      South Africa won their most recent Test match (63-21 v Italy) after losing two in a row previously.

      England have averaged more 22 entries per match than any other team in this year’s Autumn Nations Series (11.7).

      England’s Owen Farrell is one of just two players to have scored from 100% of his place-kick attempts in this year’s Autumn Nations Series.

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      Related topics

      England Senior Men
      South Africa
      Owen Farrell
      Manu Tuilagi
      Autumn Internationals
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        • Attack
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