George Furbank will make his first appearance for England in nearly two years during the Nations Championship opener against South Africa on Saturday at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. This match marks a significant milestone for Furbank, who last played for England against Japan in November 2024.
England's Starting Lineup for the Match
Furbank will be part of a back three alongside Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, with Tommy Freeman partnering Seb Atkinson in the center. The forward pack includes George Martin, making his first start since the 2025 Six Nations, and Alex Coles in the second row. Ollie Chessum will occupy the blindside flank.
Head coach Steve Borthwick praised Furbank's resilience: "George Furbank has had so many little set-backs that would really test anybody’s character and resolve and he has come through it all. While he might not have a huge number of caps at Test level, he is an experienced, calm head and such a top-quality rugby player."
Impact Players on the Bench
Henry Pollock, who has earned back-to-back man-of-the-match awards for Northampton, is among the replacements and is expected to make a significant impact later in the match. Borthwick noted, "I think when there’s a bit of fatigue and space in the game it really plays to Henry’s strengths. We love his personality, his enthusiasm and his energy."
