England have called up Emmanuel Iyogun and Chandler Cunningham-South to replace Cadan Murley and Beno Obano, both of whom suffered injuries in the 45-21 defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg.
Murley’s injury creates a back-three selection headache for Steve Borthwick, who is already without George Furbank for the summer after the Northampton star underwent surgery on his appendix ahead of the Ellis Park loss, though full-back Freddie Steward is expected to be available for Saturday’s clash with Fiji in Liverpool after missing the Springboks showdown because of a rolled ankle.
Sale wing Tom Roebuck was drafted in in Furbank’s place by Borthwick, though it was Harlequins’ Marcus Smith who started at full-back on Saturday despite primarily playing at fly-half for club and country.
Beno Obano misses out with injury after returning to the England squad for the first time since 2023
Obano, who had returned to the England squad for the first time since February 2023, is replaced by the uncapped prop Iyogun, who could be set to make his senior debut after making three appearances for England A.
Cunningham-South, who endured a challenging season with Harlequins as they stumbled to a ninth-place finish in the Gallagher PREM, also returns to the side to reinforce the back row.
Steve Borthwick endured a chastening defeat in Johannesburg
A loss against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium would pile up the already significant pressure on Borthwick, who is suffering a barren run of five straight Test losses after a disastrous Six Nations campaign saw England stoop to their lowest ever finish at the tournament.
England’s game against Fiji precedes a trip to Argentina to face Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero in their third and final Nations Championship summer fixture.
England’s Nations Championship fixtures
- South Africa 45-21 England (Johannesburg)
- vs Fiji (July 11) – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (2.10pm)
- vs Argentina (July 18) – Estadio Unico, Santiago del Estero (8.10pm)
