Centre Henry Slade has been recalled to the starting line-up for England's must-win match against Fiji on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Head coach Steve Borthwick aims to halt a streak of five consecutive Test defeats as England prepares for the challenge at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
Slade's Journey Back to the England Team
After not participating in England's Six Nations campaign earlier this year, Slade expressed frustration about his absence from the squad. He stated, "You can’t control selection - I’ve always gone back to that over the last few years. You just have to control the controllables... doing well and putting yourself up for selection." His strong performance helped Exeter reach the Premiership final, leading to his inclusion in the starting XV.
Slade, who will earn his 76th cap this weekend, has learned to maintain perspective regarding Test selection since making his debut in August 2015. He reflects on his career, saying, "It’s not always been plain sailing... I’ve had to come back and fight my way back in." This experience may serve him well as he takes the pitch against Fiji.
England's Line-Up and Tactical Changes
Slade’s return means that Tommy Freeman will revert to his usual wing position following a year-long experiment as an outside centre. Guy Pepper replaces Tom Curry at open-side flanker, marking another significant change in the starting lineup. Borthwick has also included three uncapped players on the bench, namely Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori, and George Kloska, who are set to make their Test debuts.
- England's starting XV: M Smith, Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso, F Smith, Van Poortvliet, Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Pepper, Earl.
- Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Kloska, Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, Janse van Rensburg, Caluori.
The Challenge Ahead Against Fiji
England's recent form has raised concerns, especially following their defeat to South Africa last Saturday, where they lost 45-21. Borthwick emphasized the need for improvement, stating, "We know Fiji will provide a tough challenge. They are a dangerous side who will demand the very best from us." England's previous encounters with Fiji have been mostly favorable, winning nine out of ten Test matches, including a 38-18 victory at Twickenham last November.
As England prepares for this critical match in the new Nations Championship, they will face a Fiji team that has made nine changes from their last match against Wales. With both teams eager for a win, the match promises to deliver high stakes and intense competition.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by BBC Sport. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
