Jones keeps Genge in reserve for big South Africa test

BRISTOL Bears star Ellis Genge may have been recognised as the best loose head prop on the planet at World Rugby’s annual awards on Monday, but England head coach Eddie Jones has named him as a replacement against South Africa this weekend.

England will host the Springboks at Twickenham Stadium in their final Autumn Nations Series game tomorrow (5.30pm), having won one, drawn one and lost one so far.

Genge, who was named in the World Rugby Dream Team of 2022, is among the finishers as Jones rings the changes with Exeter Chiefs trio Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds and Jack Nowell also dropping out of the starting side to take a place on the bench.

Tommy Freeman comes in at right wing for Nowell, while Saracens hooker Jamie George and prop Mako Vunipola come into the front row to join Bristol’s Kyle Sinckler.

Alex Coles comes in at flanker for Simmonds.

The two sides last faced each other in November 2021, where England won a close match 27-26.

Jones said: “This is our last game of the autumn and our chance to continue building on the improvements we have made throughout the matches.

“We have made steady progress from game-to-game, culminating in a pulsating draw against New Zealand. Now we have the chance to test ourselves against the might of the world champions.

“We’re going out there to light the crowd up. The support at Twickenham was outstanding last week and we want to work hard on the pitch to make sure we have another atmosphere like that.” England: Freddie Steward; Tommy Freeman, Manu Tuilagi , Owen Farrell (capt), Jonny May; Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola. Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell.