​Centre Henry Slade, who did not feature in England’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year, has been recalled to the starting XV to confront Fiji on Saturday as head coach Steve Borthwick looks to prevent a sixth consecutive Test defeat. The 33-year-old Slade has previously admitted his frustration at being sidelined from England’s midfield setup. He concluded the domestic season in superb form, guiding Exeter to the Premiership final. His return means Northampton’s Tommy Freeman shifts to his more familiar wing position after a year-long trial at outside centre.
In the other changes to the starting lineup, Guy Pepper comes in for Tom Curry at openside flanker, while a trio of uncapped players—Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori and George Kloska—are named among the replacements and poised to make their Test debuts off the bench.
England: M Smith; Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Pepper, Earl. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Kloska, Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, Janse van Rensburg, Caluori.
More to follow.
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