England v South Africa: Freddie Steward and Jack van Poortvliet among four England changes -ZoomTech News


Each Van Poortvliet and Steward, recognized to Borthwick from his time at Leicester Tigers, have been common starters final 12 months.

Nonetheless, scrum-half Van Poortvliet suffered a tournament-ending harm earlier than a ball was kicked on the World Cup, whereas Furbank took over the quantity 15 jersey from Steward throughout this 12 months’s Six Nations.

“Jack is a participant that was enjoying a number of video games for England previous to the World Cup in 2023 after which had that nasty harm,” Borthwick advised BBC Radio 5 Dwell.

“He has labored exceptionally arduous to come back again from that.

“He had a few niggles final season and doubtless wasn’t fairly at 100% however from what I’ve seen in coaching the final couple of weeks, the velocity of ball Jack brings to the attacking recreation is phenomenal and he’s proper as much as his perfect.”

England have proven indicators of progress of their attacking intent and have led late on in every of their previous 4 defeats.

Borthwick’s plan of kicking for each the posts and territory in a managed efficiency almost paid dividends in opposition to the Boks on the World Cup earlier than a late Handre Pollard penalty denied them a spot in back-to-back finals.

The inclusion of Steward – a reassuring presence within the backfield and below the excessive ball – suggests England could possibly be planning to kick for the skies to stifle their guests and play for territory.

Borthwick added: “It’s the proper time to convey Freddie in for this recreation. He has educated rather well and performed rather well for his membership to this point this season. George is on the market and I am happy with what he has finished within the final couple of weeks however I felt it was a bodily recreation for him final week.

“South Africa kick extra contestable kicks than anyone else on the earth. It means you need to be superb below the excessive ball and should be good in chasing the excessive ball.”

Van Poortvliet, in the meantime, is a robust box-kicker and can attempt to manoeuvre England into higher areas on the sector in addition to recognizing alternatives to throw the ball vast for Marcus Smith to threaten the gainline.

The house crowd has yearned for extra attacking rugby in latest weeks and, though England have gone a way in direction of delivering that, maybe the very best alternative to recover from the road in opposition to the world champions is to revert to kind and play a managed recreation.


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