England team and changes to face Boks


Jonathan Joseph and Ben Morgan were on Tuesday included in a 24-man England squad for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks at Twickenham.

London Irish centre Joseph and Gloucester No.8 Morgan, who scored a hat trick against London Welsh at the weekend, make their first appearances in the matchday squad for the November Tests.

Similarly, London Wasps flank James Haskell and London Irish loosehead Alex Corbisiero are retained by England coach Stuart Lancaster, with starters from the 20-14 defeat to Australia, wing Charlie Sharples, No.8 Thomas Waldrom, flanker Tom Johnson and prop Joe Marler, among those released back to their clubs.

Lancaster said: "We have made some changes this week to freshen up the squad before the challenge of South Africa. Unfortunately that means one or two players miss out who were in the match day squad against Australia.

“But they have all added value with their contributions in training and the games and I am sure they will be looking to play well for their clubs and force their way back in.

"The changes however give opportunities to those who have been pushing hard and we feel will add energy and balance to the team ahead of the significant South African challenge."

England:

Forwards: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester).

Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Ben Youngs (Leicester).

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