Courtney Lawes and Alex Mitchell have both been selected to start England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final clash against South Africa on Saturday (kick-off: 8pm BST, live on ITV Sport).
The Northampton Saints duo keep their places in the XV having also started the Red Rose’s quarter-final 30-24 victory over Fiji on Sunday in Marseille.
Lawes is once again named as one of the team’s vice-captains as he packs down on the blindside flank at Stade de France, with scrum-half Mitchell earning his 11th international cap in the No.9 Jersey for head coach Steve Borthwick’s side.
There are three changes in total for England; Joe Marler returns at loosehead prop, George Martin is selected in the engine room, and Freddie Steward is preferred at fullback.
“After an excellent few days preparation in Paris, we look forward to the challenge of playing the World Champions and number one ranked team in the world,” said Borthwick.
“Through this tournament the team has progressed, with the players repeatedly finding a way to win, sometimes in challenging circumstances. We will once again need to be at our very best this weekend as we face an excellent team in South Africa.
“There is no doubt the players will truly relish the challenge of knockout rugby under the lights in Paris. These players will, as they have done in every game of this tournament, give absolutely everything in the semi-final to get the result we want.
“I also know that our supporters will once again be there in their thousands, playing their part in backing the team with a full voice. To all those who have travelled and to all those lending their support and encouragement from home, I say ‘thank you’.”
ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday 21 October 2023
Stade de France
Kick-off: 9pm (CEST)
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 29 caps)
14 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 77 caps)
13 Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 24 caps)
12 Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 57 caps)
11 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 63 caps)
10 Owen Farrell – captain (Saracens, 110 caps)
9 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 87 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 83 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 105 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 74 caps)
5 George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes – vice-captain (Northampton Saints, 104 caps)
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 48 caps)
8 Ben Earl (Saracens, 23 caps)
Replacements:
16 Theo Dan (Saracens, 6 caps)
17 Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
18 Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 67 caps)
19 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
20 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins, 94 caps)
22 George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 89 caps)
23 Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)
