England coach Andy Robinson has been forced to make sevens changes to the team that lost to Argentina last week. Due to a commitment with the clubs he cannot play any player in all four of the tests this November so he has had to try and create some stability.
Although he has been forced to make the changes Noon, Hodgson, Sanderson, Corry, Balshaw, Chuter, White and Kay will not be able to play next week in the second match against the Springboks.
Mathew Tait is named at outside centre, Jamie Noon moves to number 12 with Peter Richards chosen at scrum-half. Positively England’s 1st choice wing Cueto is now available for selection.
Beefing up the front row, Prop Andrew Sheridan comes back into he team while wingers Josh Lewsey and Mark Cueto and lock Tom Palmer come back.
Ben Cohen and Danny Grewcock have all been rested and will surely come back next week if needed.
Paul Sackey and Perry Freshwater picked up injuries so they were unavailable to play.
Martin Corry moves to number eight and retains the captaincy despite a lot of questions being raised over his leadership skills which were lacking last week.
Joe Worsley comes in a Flank and Pat Sanderson who played the last two games at 8 will now play at openside flank.”Martin was disappointed in his own performance against Argentina after a very good performance against New Zealand,” Robinson told the BBC.
“But I think it is right he plays this week. He has an opportunity to put things right in terms of the leadership and his own performance.
“He is very clear in what he has to achieve and I have no doubt he can achieve that.”
“I think Pat is our best ball-player in terms of the back row, and he is showing that on the international stage,” Robinson said.
At No.10 England have never replaced Jonny Wilkinson and last week they took Charlie Hodgson off early to much criticism later by much of the media.
“Brian Ashton (Attack coach) and I have had a frank discussion with Charlie this week, and I think Charlie will be a better player for that, it is part of the process of developing the team, developing Charlie as a leader and a person.” Robinson said.
“South Africa will play in our faces, be very direct, and we felt we needed to bring in the best defender in the Premiership, which is what Joe has consistently been,” Robinson added.
England have now lost seven tests in a row and have never lost eight in 135 year of English rugby.
England team to face the Springboks
Balshaw (Gloucester), Cueto (Sale), Tait (Newcastle), Noon (Newcastle), Lewsey (Wasps), Hodgson (Sale), Richards (Gloucester), Sheridan (Sale), Chuter (Leicester), White (Leicester), Palmer (Wasps), Kay (Leicester), Worsley (Wasps), Sanderson (Worcester), Corry (Leicester, capt).
Replacements: Mears (Bath), Vickery (Wasps), Jones (Sale), Moody (Leicester), Perry (Bristol), Goode (Leicester), Flood (Newcastle).
