Benhard Janse van Rensburg, the South African-born centre, is on the cusp of his first appearance in an England shirt, having been named on the bench for Friday's non-cap fixture against a France XV in Vannes. The 29-year-old's inclusion has been met with warm praise from England captain George Ford and head coach Steve Borthwick, despite some debate surrounding his eligibility.
Ford, who will lead the England side in the encounter, described Janse van Rensburg as 'brilliant' and 'like an excitable kid,' highlighting his immense energy and clear obsession with the sport. "He not only loves the game, but loves training as well. He gives us loads of energy and we're looking forward to seeing him play," Ford commented, underscoring the positive impact the former Springboks Under-20 player has had on the squad.
Janse van Rensburg's path to potential England honours has been a talking point. Born in South Africa, he represented the Springboks at Under-20 level. However, following an appeal by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to World Rugby, he is set to officially qualify for Test rugby for England in July, having completed five years of residency in the country. This selection has drawn some criticism, with figures such as former England scrum-half Danny Care arguing for prioritisation of talent nurtured within England's age-grade system.
Head coach Steve Borthwick, however, strongly backed Janse van Rensburg, revealing that the rest of the squad 'think the world' of him since his initial call-up to a training camp in May. Borthwick lauded him as "a wonderful character as well as being a really top-quality rugby player," expressing anticipation for his debut performance on Friday night.
In other team news for England, Bath's Max Ojomoh earns a starting berth at centre, ahead of his Bristol rival. Borthwick has challenged Ojomoh to demonstrate a balance between his well-known attacking prowess and defensive solidity. The coach emphasised the importance of high work rate, particularly in defence and in support of teammates, as a key expectation for all players on the field. The France XV, missing players from Top 14 semi-finalists, will feature established club combinations, with La Rochelle half-backs Nolann Le Garrec and Antoine Hastoy starting, and Bordeaux-Begles providing the entire front row and centre pairing.