Freeman leads England changes as Jones names squad for South Africa encounter

By Sports Desk November 24, 2022

Tommy Freeman headlines the changes to England's clash with world champions South Africa at Twickenham this weekend, as Eddie Jones makes four swaps.

After mounting a famous late comeback to secure a 25-25 draw last time out with New Zealand, the hosts have made a handful of alterations for their meeting with the Springboks.

Freeman, a star performer during England's tour of Australia earlier this year, has only recently returned from a foot injury, and takes the spot of Jack Nowell.

Mako Vunipola, Alex Coles and Jamie George meanwhile all come into the side, with Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds and Ellis Genge dropping to the bench.

Jack van Poortvliet meanwhile keeps his berth in the halves alongside Marcus Smith, while Owen Farrell will skipper the side at centre for Jones' men.

South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber meanwhile makes four swaps himself, with three enforced by players returning to their clubs as Saturday's game falls outside the international Test window

Cheslin Kolbe, Andre Esterhuizen, and Jasper Wiese are all out as they head back to domestic commitments, with Salmaan Moerat also omitted from the side that beat Italy.

Experienced pair Makazole Mapimpi and Eben Etzebeth both return to the fold in their place, joined by Jesse Kriel and Evan Roos.

England team: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell.

South Africa team: Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Evan Roos.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie.

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    Declan Rice insists there are positives England can take from Friday's friendly loss to Iceland, also saying the result should not affect Kobbie Mainoo's chances of partnering him in midfield.

    England were booed off as they lost their final Euro 2024 warm-up fixture 1-0 at Wembley Stadium, Jon Thorsteinsson's 12th-minute strike proving decisive.

    Gareth Southgate's team managed just one shot on target as Iceland sat deep and invited pressure, with Harry Kane and Ivan Toney both fluffing their lines from promising positions.

    It was their fewest shots on target in any game since a goalless draw with Scotland in the group stage at Euro 2020 (also one).

    The Three Lions were also criticised for a lethargic performance on that occasion, only to reach the final of that tournament.

    While Rice was disappointed with Friday's result, he is sure England will learn from their mistakes in time for Group C fixtures against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.

    "I think when we have that much of the ball and have a couple of really clear-cut chances, and obviously getting beat 1-0 at home just before a Euros isn't ideal, but I am going to take the positives from it as well," Rice told Channel 4. 

    "There were a lot of promising performances tonight. I felt on the pitch we played with a good tempo, always tried to play forward and be attacking and a threat. 

    "In the end it becomes a frustrating game because you are chasing your tail a little bit, you're likely to get caught on the counterattack and that is where we have to be a little bit more savvy. 

    "Going into a tournament, it is not ideal that we lost, but also there are some good learning curves from tonight that we can build on as a team."

    This is the first time England have lost their final game prior to a major international tournament since Euro 1968, when they fell at the first hurdle in a four-team competition after going down to West Germany in their final warm-up fixture.

    After losing 1-0 to Brazil in March, they have also failed to score in two of their last three matches at Wembley, as many blanks as they fired in their previous 31 outings at the national stadium.

    Rice partnered Manchester United youngster Mainoo in the heart of midfield, and his team-mate came in for some criticism from supporters as the Three Lions were routinely caught out on the counterattack.

    Rice, however, remains excited about Mainoo's potential, saying: "We did it in March, and it was really positive.

    "I can imagine tonight because we lost tonight some people are saying stuff, but that's football these days. Kobbie's young, I am young, our midfield options are young. 

    "We are going to learn every game and that is the beauty of football, that every game you play there is a chance to improve and get better."

  • Southgate promises England will learn from Iceland loss Southgate promises England will learn from Iceland loss

    Gareth Southgate has pledged England will learn from Friday's shock 1-0 defeat to Iceland ahead of their Euro 2024 campaign starting next week.

    England's Wembley Stadium send-off fell flat as they produced a disjointed performance against a stubborn Iceland side, with Jon Thorsteinsson's low strike the difference. 

    Despite Southgate picking a strong starting lineup featuring Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, the Three Lions managed just one shot on target and only recorded 0.89 expected goals (xG) from 13 total attempts.

    It is the first time they have lost their final game prior to an international tournament since Euro 1968, having won 15 and drawn five of their previous 20 such matches. 

    While Southgate was in no mood to excuse England's below-par performance, he is sure their issues will be solved before they face Serbia in Gelsenkirchen in nine days' time.

    "It was obviously a disjointed and disappointing performance, and we didn't show enough character but I think it's good for us before an international tournament," Southgate told Channel 4.

    "I think we've got to be better without the ball. I think there were a lot of reasons for that and across the two games we probably haven't had our full side out. 

    "We've been able to look at people, we've been able to learn about the balance of the team.

    "I've been involved in a lot of last matches leading into a tournament. 

    "Inevitably players have one eye on what's coming in terms of early challenges. There are no excuses on the result but there are a lot of things we can put right quickly."

    England have now conceded first in each of their last three games at Wembley – against Brazil and Belgium in March and versus Iceland on Friday.

    It is the first time they have conceded first in three successive matches at the national stadium since doing so between October 1953 and November 1954 – a run which included an infamous 6-3 defeat to Hungary in November 1953.

  • England 0-1 Iceland: Below-par Three Lions beaten in final Euro 2024 warm-up England 0-1 Iceland: Below-par Three Lions beaten in final Euro 2024 warm-up

    England's Euro 2024 preparations ended on a sour note as Gareth Southgate's side produced a limp display in a surprise 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley Stadium.

    The absence of Jude Bellingham aside, Southgate selected a strong starting lineup but saw his side toil in the final third as Jon Thorsteinsson's early effort proved decisive. 

    England started slowly as Iceland sat deep, and they were hit on the break 11 minutes in, Thorsteinsson driving a low strike behind the dive of Aaron Ramsdale and in after cutting inside John Stones on the left side of the area. 

    The Three Lions missed two glaring chances to level before half-time, with Cole Palmer seeing a volley deflect wide before Harry Kane inexplicably fluffed his lines when picked out by the Chelsea man.

    Stones was replaced by Ezri Konsa at the break in what appeared to be a precautionary move after the Manchester City man took a knock. England should have gone 2-0 down just after the hour-mark, but Thorsteinsson slipped when presented with a clear sight of goal.

    That was the closest either side came to a goal in the second half, with substitute Ivan Toney missing England's best chance when he hooked Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross over.

    Alexander-Arnold sent a cross-shot just wide in stoppage time and England were booed off at full-time, and far better will be required against Serbia next week. 

    Data Debrief: Lacklustre warm-up for Three Lions

    Prior to Friday's game, England had not lost their final game before any of their last 20 international tournaments (15 wins, five draws), last doing so when they went down 1-0 in Germany ahead of Euro 1968.

    On that occasion, England, then world champions, fell at the first hurdle in a four-team tournament, losing out to eventual runners-up Yugoslavia. 

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