England vs South Africa: Henry Pollock remains on bench as George Furbank returns for Nations Championship clash in Johannesburg

02.07.2026, 16:25 skysports.com

George Furbank will make his first England start since 2024 after being selected for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against South Africa, while Henry Pollock remains on the bench.

Pollock's strong domestic form for Northampton Saints had put him in contention to make his second Test start, but the 21-year-old misses out with Tom Curry and Ben Earl preferred in the back row.

Furbank hasn't featured for England since their November 2024 victory over Japan, but will start after his main competition for a starting spot, Freddie Steward, was ruled out by injury.

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There are five changes to Steve Borthwick's starting XV from the side that lost 48-46 to France in their final Six Nations fixture in March, with Jamie George taking over as captain in the absence of rested skipper Maro Itoje.

Also returning to the starting line-up are Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wing, Jack van Poortvliet at scrum-half, George Martin in place of Itoje in the second row, and Curry in the back row.

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England team to face South Africa:

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Starting XV: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Alex Coles, 5 George Martin, 6 Ollie Chessum, 7. Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Marcus Smith.

Sam Prendergast will start for Ireland after an impressive domestic season with Leinster has helped him win his Test place back after being benched during the Six Nations.

Prendergast has been given the nod in Sydney ahead of Ciaran Frawley and Harry Byrne, his team-mates in club rugby with Leinster, with injury to Jack Crowley ruling the regular No 10 out of the tour.

Jamie Osborne is on the left wing, getting the nod ahead of Zac Ward, Jacob Stockdale and Jimmy O'Brien despite being more regularly employed in the centre or at full-back for Leinster.

Tom O'Toole starts at loosehead prop with Andrew Porter, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy all out.

Stuart McCloskey, impressive in Ireland's Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign, has recovered from a hamstring injury to start in midfield alongside Garry Ringrose.

Ireland team to face Australia:

Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jamie Osborne, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Tom O'Toole, 2 Dan Sheehan (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Cian Prendergast, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.

Bristol's Tom Jordan will start at fly-half for Scotland in their Nations Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba on Saturday.

The versatile 27-year-old, who can also play at full-back, steps in at No 10 in place of Finn Russell, who has not been included in Gregor Townsend's match-day squad as he recovers from a calf injury.

Glasgow's Kyle Rowe has been named at full-back, with Blair Kinghorn also rested following his appearance last Saturday for Toulouse in their Top 14 final win against Montpellier.

There is also a rare start in the centres for Northampton's Rory Hutchinson, who partners captain Sione Tuipulotu in the continued absence of Huw Jones (foot).

Both Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings are set to earn their 50th caps.

Edinburgh prop Schoeman is joined in the front row by Ewan Ashman and Elliot Millar Mills, while Glasgow's Cummings will partner Jonny Gray in the second row, with Edinburgh's Grant Gilchrist rested.

Scotland team to face Argentina:

Starting XV: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Jonny Gray, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 George Horne, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Darcy Graham.

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