George Furbank is set to earn his 15th international cap for England during this Saturday’s Nations Championship season opener against South Africa in Johannesburg. This match marks his return to the starting side after a nearly two-year absence.
The back three features Furbank alongside Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, while Tommy Freeman and Seb Atkinson will form the center pairing. In the forward pack, George Martin secures his first start since the 2025 Six Nations, teaming up with Alex Coles in the second row, while Ollie Chessum operates on the blindside flank. Henry Pollock, following a stellar performance in Northampton’s Premiership title win, has been named as a replacement.
Head coach Steve Borthwick expressed enthusiasm for the challenge at Ellis Park. With Maro Itoje absent from the tour, Jamie George will captain the side from hooker, supported by props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. The back row includes Ben Earl and Tom Curry, with Jack van Poortvliet at scrum-half and Fin Smith at fly-half.
Furbank regained peak form for Northampton before his recent move to Harlequins, successfully recovering from a series of injuries that hampered his progress since his last outing against Japan in late 2024. His teammate Cadan Murley noted the significance of facing world-class opponents, specifically highlighting the challenge of competing against double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe. The match will be available for audiences via BBC radio and digital platforms.
