David Ribbans has been dropped as Steve Borthwick recalled senior England players, once again led by Owen Farrell, in a World Cup warm-up against Wales on Saturday.
The towering SA-born Ribbans started in a largely second-string England team that lost 20-9 against Wales in Cardiff last weekend.
Head coach Borthwick has since named the Roses squad for the World Cup, which gets underway in France next month, and the team announced on Thursday for this weekend’s clash at Twickenham appears to be close to his strongest XV.
Up front, Billy Vunipola – the only specialist No 8 in the World Cup squad – returns to make his first Test start since the 2022 end-of-year internationals, having missed the Six Nations after a run of poor form and then undergone successive knee operations.
Anything can happen?🧐@mark_keohane and Zels expect a different Bok side to rock up at the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/sfFAsdBTpg
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 11, 2023
England’s pack also includes several seasoned campaigners – openside flanker Courtney Lawes, lock Maro Itoje, hooker Jamie George and prop Joe Marler.
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England struggled to take their chances at the Principality Stadium last week, and Borthwick has recalled two proven finishers in wings Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell.
Daly will be making his first England appearance since the 2022 Six Nations, having been discarded by former coach Eddie Jones before a torn hamstring stopped him returning for this year’s Championship.
England – 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler.
Subs: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Max Malins.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Alex Davidson/AFP