Martin starts as England gamble on reshuffle vs Springboks
Saracens lock George Martin gets the nod over Itoje’s absence as Jones shuffles his pack for the Nations Championship opener against South Africa.
England named George Martin to start against South Africa after Maro Itoje was ruled out with injury, forcing a major reshuffle ahead of the new Nations Championship opener. Jack van Poortvliet was preferred at scrum-half over Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer, while Tom Curry and Manny Feyi-Waboso returned to the starting XV. The match marks the first game of the revamped tournament, raising the stakes for both sides.
