Furbank's Flying High Again: Talented Full-Back Returns to XV with a Bang
Get ready for a shot of adrenaline, England fans! George Furbank is back in the number 15 shirt after nearly two injury-plagued years and he's hitting the pitch running. The full-back's impressive form for Northampton Saints in the latter stages of the Premiership season, where he played a pivotal role in their title win, has earned him a starting berth against reigning world champions South Africa in Johannesburg this Saturday.
Coach Steve Borthwick can't stop raving about Furbank's resilience, saying, "George Furbank has had so many little setbacks that would really test anybody's character and resolve, and he has come through it all." And you know what? It's a testament to his mettle. Despite being relatively low on Test caps, Furbank brings an experience and calmness to the back three alongside Cadan Murley and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, with Tommy Freeman partnering Seb Atkinson in the centres.
But that's not all - the forward pack is looking formidable too! George Martin makes his first England start since the 2025 Six Nations and joins Alex Coles in the second row. Ollie Chessum will be wreaking havoc on the blindside flank, complemented by Ben Earl and Tom Curry at the back of the scrum. Jamie George captains from hooker - a familiar face to many fans - supported by props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. In the absence of regular skipper Maro Itoje, who's been rested for this tour.
And let's not forget Fin Smith at fly-half and Jack van Poortvliet at scrum-half - a potentially explosive partnership that could light up the game. Among the replacements, Henry Pollock from Northampton Saints is ready to make an impact, having collected back-to-back man-of-the-match awards in their Premiership triumph.
Cadan Murley knows he's got his work cut out for him against Cheslin Kolbe - a double World Cup winner and arguably one of the best wingers since that 2019 World Cup. "Cheslin Kolbe has probably been the standout winger since that 2019 World Cup to be honest," Murley told BBC Sport. It's a massive challenge, but an exciting one.
This match marks the start of something special for England in the Nations Championship - and it offers a vital chance for players like Furbank to cement their places ahead of future international commitments. With this blend of experience and emerging talent, they're ready to take on the world!