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The South African-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg and the Saracens teenager Noah Caluori are both in line to win their first full international caps after being named as replacements in England’s matchday squad to face Fiji on Saturday. Both newcomers have been selected on the bench alongside the Bristol prop George Kloska who is also poised to make his Test debut.
The 29-year-old Janse van Rensburg, who qualified this week on residency grounds having previously been ineligible because of a brief age-grade appearance for South Africa in 2016, is the latest centre to be picked by head coach Steve Borthwick, who has already selected 17 different starting centre partnerships in his 46-Test tenure. “He’s willing to take the ball to the line and throw long passes into space, but also to get between defenders and use his physicality well,” said England’s defence coach, Richard Wigglesworth. “We’ve seen him play well in the Premiership … he’s been consistent for a long time now.”
On this occasion, though, Exeter’s experienced Henry Slade has been recalled to the starting XV. The 19-year-old Caluori, meanwhile, is also poised for a second-half role having finished as this season’s top try-scorer in the domestic Prem. His aerial ability is on another level but, with Cadan Murley injured, Borthwick has opted to move Tommy Freeman back to the right wing as England seek to regroup after their 45-21 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg. The only other starting change sees Guy Pepper replace Tom Curry, who drops to the bench.
England squad to face Fiji
ShowStarting XV: M Smith; Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George (capt), Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Pepper, Earl
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Kloska, Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, Janse van Rensburg, Caluori
The Ellis Park disappointment was England’s fifth successive Test defeat and prompted their fly-half Fin Smith to describe his team as “soft defensively”. Another loss this weekend would heap serious pressure on the Borthwick regime given Fiji lost 39-24 to Wales in the opening round of the new Nations Championship. “We know Fiji will provide a tough challenge,” said Borthwick. “They are a dangerous side who will demand the very best from us.”
