Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori, and George Kloska are all in line to make their England Test debuts after being named in the matchday squad to face Fiji on Saturday. The South African-born Janse van Rensburg and Saracens teenager Caluori have been selected on the bench alongside Bristol prop Kloska.
Janse van Rensburg's Residency Qualification
The 29-year-old Janse van Rensburg, a centre, qualified this week on residency grounds after previously being ineligible due to a brief age-grade appearance for South Africa in 2016. He is the latest in a long line of centres picked by head coach Steve Borthwick, who has used 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.”
Caluori's Aerial Ability
The 19-year-old Caluori, this season’s top try-scorer in the domestic Premiership, is also poised for a second-half role. His aerial ability is highly regarded, but with Cadan Murley injured, Borthwick has moved Tommy Freeman back to the right wing as England seek to regroup after their 45-21 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg.
Other Team Changes
Exeter’s experienced Henry Slade has been recalled to the starting XV. The only other starting change sees Guy Pepper replace Tom Curry, who drops to the bench. The Ellis Park disappointment was England’s fifth successive Test defeat and prompted fly-half Fin Smith to describe his team as “soft defensively”.
Pressure on Borthwick
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.”
