Freddie Steward has replaced Marcus Smith in one of three England changes for their Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa, with the Springboks unchanged from last weekend’s victory over France.
With South Africa likely to deploy a more potent aerial barrage than Fiji did on England the change was always anticipated, though it seems England have been forced into it due to Smith receiving a concussion following a number of big blows in both attack and defence last Sunday.
In further changes to England head coach Steve Borthwick’s selection, Joe Marler replaces Ellis Genge at loosehead prop while George Martin comes in for Ollie Chessum, with those two dropped players available to come on from the bench.
They are the only English changes amongst the substitutes too, as Steward gets his start from being out of the squad entirely last time out, while South Africa haven’t made a single switch across the squad that won their quarter-final.
“After an excellent few days preparation in Paris, we look forward to the challenge of playing the World Champions and number one ranked team in the world,” said Borthwick.
“Through this tournament the team has progressed, with the players repeatedly finding a way to win, sometimes in challenging circumstances. We will once again need to be at our very best this weekend as we face an excellent team in South Africa.
“There is no doubt the players will truly relish the challenge of knockout rugby under the lights in Paris. These players will, as they have done in every game of this tournament, give absolutely everything in the semi-final to get the result we want.”
England have been on the receiving end of plenty of criticism for both the quality of performances they have put in and the style of play they have deployed at times during this World Cup, but an improved attacking display against Fiji and a now five-match unbeaten run has raised hopes of an upset among their supporters.
South Africa still have an implied 85.7 per cent chance of progressing among bookmakers though, with their depth and experience in the pack looking ominous – especially when considering the way England’s forwards were taken apart by the same opposition in the 2019 World Cup Final.
13 players in the English squad also featured in the 32-12 defeat to the Springboks four years ago, with Borthwick handing Marler a start after Eddie Jones said leaving the Harlequins prop out was one of two mistakes he made when choosing his starting XV for that final.
Relegating Genge and Chessum to the bench may well be a move to try and combat South Africa’s feared front row “bomb squad” and the impact substitute lock RG Snyman have had in the second halves of matches respectively, while Marler and Martin starting suggests England are looking to have plenty of power in the front five to begin the game too.
Eight of the Springboks’ starting XV began the win over the men in white in their famous World Cup triumph four years ago.
South African coach Jacques Nienaber referred to the experience of his team as he looked ahead to the game, but also alluded to the amount of experience the England side have as the two sides meet at this stage of the competition for the first time ever.
“We’ve been building a quality Rugby World Cup squad for the last few years so that we could be in this position going into the knockout matches,” said Nienaber.
“Like us, they are one game away from a World Cup final and we’ve seen through the history of the tournament that England raise their game for these matches.
“We are closely matched in terms of average player age and caps, both teams are used to playing on the biggest stage. This is do-or-die if either of us wants to the lift the trophy next week.”
ENGLAND: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Marler, George, Cole, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Curry, Earl
Replacements: Dan, Genge, Sinckler, Chessum, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence
SOUTH AFRICA: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen
Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux
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