2016 Autumn Internationals: England v South Africa

England go head-to-head with South Africa in Autumn Internationals

England v South Africa: Elliot Daly and Tom Wood to start for England

In the Old Mutual Wealth Series, England face South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, November 12th, kick-off at 14:30 GMT. Great seats and cheap England v South Africa rugby tickets are still available for sale at the last minute on the secure LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk rugby union ticket marketplace. England are heavy favorites to defeat South Africa, however while South Africa have been in poor form so far in 2016, rugby players the likes of Tendai Mtawarira, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager and Willem Alberts could upset the odds.

"We've picked a match-day 23 with a blend of experience and youth," said England head coach Eddie Jones. Australian Jones has confirmed that Wasps center Elliot Daly and Northampton flanker Tom Wood will start for England in Saturday's Test match against South Africa at Twickenham. Daly, 24, will make his first international start, replacing Bath's Jonathan Joseph. Wood, 30, will make his first England appearance in more than a year. Debutants Kyle Sinckler, Nathan Hughes and Ben Te'o will start the match on the bench. Jonny May will start, and Courtney Lawes wins his 50th cap.

Elliot Daly, who has won five caps as a replacement, will start in a midfield position along with Saracens' Owen Farrell. With Daly starting, Joseph who has a groin injury, drops to the bench. Jones will be missing some powerful, key rugby players due to injury, but sees an opportunity to feature some new faces. Jones is without injured back-row rugby players James Haskell, Maro Itoje, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones and Mike Williams, while winger Anthony Watson has a broken jaw. "It's a fantastic opportunity to show how much depth we have in English rugby," said Jones. "With a few influential players not available for selection, this is a great opportunity for some of the new faces to put both feet forward and we're backing them to do the job for us."

Daly's selection was not a big shock to former England captain and World Cup winner Mike Tindall. "I was lucky to play with him at Barbarians. He's just got a fantastic skill-set and the ability to beat people," said Tindall. "Elliot is a little bit more classy. He will beat you by subtlety rather than when Jonathan Joseph will stand up and go around you." Back row Josh Beaumont and hooker Tommy Taylor who were on Jones' initial 25-man squad, were not named but will travel as reserves. Former Springbok Hennie le Roux believes the visitors are "ripe for the taking". South Africa head coach Allister Coetzee has named debutant centre Francois Venter in the midfield alongside Damian de Allende. Coetzee also named lock Pieter-Steph du Toit and Willem Alberts.

"This game cannot be played without physicality or gainline dominance," Coetzee said. "This pack of forwards that we have selected suits the way we want to play. We live in a country of opinions - but we draw belief from within. There is a plan, the players understand the plan and we are putting everything into getting the execution of the plan right." Meanwhile England manager Eddie Jones is looking forward to England’s opening game of the Autumn Internationals series. He was asked when his England side would reach their optimum form. “November 2nd 2019, 8pm,” replied Jones, referring to the next World Cup final in Japan in three years. “We will be at our absolute peak. We’ll be like Rocky, doing push-ups at the top of the stairs.”

Wasps’ Elliot Daly was named by Jones to earn his first start for his country’s senior team ahead of his outside-centre rival Jonathan Joseph. England has a nine-game unbeaten run under Jones this year. Jones said about Daly “he’s full of energy. I thought he had to work much harder and that’s what he’s done. He’s doing all the small parts of the game better.” Semesa Rokoduguni has been omitted in favor of Marland Yarde.

“My gut feeling is that Marland and Jonny May are right for Saturday,” said Jones. “It’s a different sort of game and there’ll be other Tests in November which will be right for Roko to play. I want him to play 30-40 Tests for England and to do that I’ve got to make sure that what happened to him last time [being dropped after one game] doesn’t happen again. So I’ve got to manage that player well. Do you want to make your debut as a Test match batsman at the Waca in Perth against four West Indies quicks or on a flat track in Melbourne against spinners? He’s got things other guys can’t do but I want his first Test under me to be a game where he plays really well. If he does that his career will grow.”

Tom Wood has been recalled for the first time since last year’s World Cup to replace the injured James Haskell. “He’s got big shoes to fill, and Hask will tell you that,” said Jones. “But Wood’s come in and he’s so full of enthusiasm. He’s got a bit of Rambo about him. He walks around the hotel with no shoes on, he’s got bows and arrows round the corner, he’s got chainsaws. He’s played 42 Tests but he’s come in like it’s his first Test. He’s just busting to do well for the team.”

Courtney Lawes will win his 50th cap in the second row. Uncapped rugby players Harlequins tighthead Kyle Sinckler, Wasps’ back-row Nathan Hughes and Worcester center Ben Te’o will be on the bench. “We took Sinckler to Australia as a project player to see what he was made of. He has got some attributes that other tight head props don’t have. But he didn’t have the coachable bits which is putting your head in and being uncomfortable for long periods of time.”

Wet weather is forecast for Twickenham.

England v South Africa Squads
England National Rugby Team
Mike Brown (Harlequins); Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby); George Ford (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers); Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints); Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements
Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby).

South Africa National Rugby Team
Willie le Roux (Canon Eagles), Ruan Combrinck (Xerox Golden Lions), Francois Venter (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Damian de Allende (DHL Western Province), JP Pietersen (Leicester Tigers), Patrick Lambie (Cell C Sharks), Rudy Paige (Vodacom Blue Bulls); Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Vincent Koch (Saracens), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province), Lood de Jager (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Willem Alberts (Stade Francais), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Western Province), Warren Whiteley (Docomo Red Hurricanes).
Replacements
Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Western Province), Steven Kitshoff (Bordeaux), Lourens Adriaanse (Cell C Sharks), Franco Mostert (Ricoh Black Rams), Nizaam Carr (DHL Western Province), Faf de Klerk (Xerox Golden Lions), Johan Goosen (Racing 92), Lionel Mapoe (Kubota Spears).

Buy the very best Autumn Internationals rugby tickets now securely online from LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk at great prices!

England v South Africa Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Twickenham Stadium
England v Australia Tickets 3 Dec 2016 Twickenham Stadium