Chiefs trio to face South Africa

By Mark Stevens
18/11/21

Exeter Chiefs trio Jonny Hill, Henry Slade and Sam Simmonds have all been named in the England squad to take on world champions South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday (3.15pm).

Hill will once again start in the second row alongside Maro Itoje, whilst Slade - who is one of two vice-captains for the game - reunites his midfield pairing with Manu Tuilagi.

Courtney Laweswill captain the side for a second time., whilst Jamie Blamire will start as hooker. Joe Marchant returns to the side on the right wing, Jonny May is on the left wing and Freddie Steward is at full-back. Tuilagi is at inside centre, Marcus Smith is at fly-half and the side’s most capped-player Ben Youngs (111) is at scrum-half.

Hooker Nic Dolly could make his England debut, as he is named as a finisher – alongside Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Simmonds, Alex Dombrandt, Raffi Quirke and Max Malins.

Eddie Jones said: “This is our biggest game of the season and the final game of the autumn campaign and we want to finish with a bang. We’ve been really pleased with the preparation this week and how the team has continued to develop over the past month. Now we want to put on our best performance this autumn in front of a capacity 82,000 crowd at Twickenham.”

ENGLAND SIDE TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
14. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 6 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 68 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 4 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 111 caps)
1. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
2. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 4 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 50 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, capt, 89 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
8. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 35 caps)

16. Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 73 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
21. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 3 caps)
22. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
23. Max Malins (Saracens, 9 caps)