England starting rookies Coles, Freeman against Springboks

Thu, Nov 24, 2022
Other News (AP)

LONDON (AP) - England recalled Northampton forward Alex Coles and back Tommy Freeman to play out of position against South Africa in the rugby test at Twickenham on Saturday.

Also, loosehead Mako Vunipola and hooker Jamie George were starting ahead of Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Coles made his debut at lock in the loss to Argentina this month and came off the bench in the Japan win. He wasn't involved in the New Zealand draw last weekend and has replaced Sam Simmonds on the blindside flank. Simmonds was in the reserves at the expense of specialist flanker Jack Willis.

Freeman last featured for England in Australia in July. He's bumped Jack Nowell to the reserves and Guy Porter has been dropped.

Center Manu Tuilagi will play his 50th England test.

"We have made steady progress from game to game, culminating in a pulsating draw against New Zealand," England coach Eddie Jones said on Thursday.

"Now we have the chance to test ourselves against the might of the world champions. We're going out there to light the crowd up."

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England: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (captain), Jonny May, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Alex Coles, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell.

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