QBE Autumn Internationals: England v South Africa preview
Last Updated: 15/11/14 8:04am
England will seek to end a run of four successive defeats when South Africa arrive at Twickenham for the second installment of a four-match QBE Autumn International series.
Stuart Lancaster’s side suffered a 24-21 reverse at the hands of New Zealand at Rugby HQ last weekend – their fourth straight loss to the world champions after a summer tour whitewash.
Next on the agenda for England is the side ranked second in the world with South Africa following the All Blacks, though a humbling defeat at the hands of Ireland last time out means both sides are desperate to rediscover form.
Between England’s defeats to New Zealand, the Springboks ended the All Blacks’ 22-match unbeaten run and the hosts face a sizeable challenge despite South Africa arriving on the back of defeat.
The Springboks are the only one of the southern hemisphere “big three” yet to be beaten by Lancaster and none of the England squad have experienced victory over South Africa.
England’s most recent win over the Springboks came in the 2006 Autumn International series.
Following their narrow defeat last weekend Lancaster has kept the faith in his England squad, with just one injury-enforced change.
British Army Lance Corporal Semesa Rokoduguni impressed on debut at Twickenham against the All Blacks but pulled up in the second half and will not feature this time around.
Elementary selection
Instead, 20-year-old Bath team-mate Anthony Watson will make his first England start, lining up opposite last weekend’s try-scorer Jonny May. Mike Brown completes the back three.
Owen Farrell retains the No 10 jersey alongside Danny Care, who is set to earn his 50th cap.
England’s most praiseworthy points against the All Blacks came from the pack, which remains unchanged after Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley made successful comebacks from concussion.
While Lancaster has given a vote of confidence, South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer makes five changes to the side that lost 29-15 to Ireland.
World Cup winners JP Pietersen and Schalk Burger are recalled to the wing and openside flanker respectively.
Pat Lambie gets the nod at fly-half ahead of the highly-rated Handre Pollard and Cobus Reinach comes in at scrum-half, in a new half-back pairing, in place of Francois Hougaard.
The fifth and final adjustment to the starting XV beaten by Ireland in Dublin will see Adriaan Strauss start at hooker.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell , 9 Danny Care; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 David Wilson, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Marland Yarde
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (capt), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Cornal Hendricks
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