Eddie Jones has cited England’s need for physicality against South Africa as he welcomes Ben Te’o, Jack Nowell and George Kruis to his starting XV for the first time since the 2018 Six Nations.
Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell are named as co-captains in the 413-cap starting XV, the Saracens playmaker moving to fly-half in the first Test of the Autumn Internationals on Saturday (kick-off 3pm, Twickenham Stadium).
Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi is in line to make his 27th England appearance from the replacements bench having last played for his country against Wales in the 2016 Six Nations, while Kyle Sinckler and Mark Wilson start in the pack.
Exeter Chiefs’ Alec Hepburn will make his starting debut for England while uncapped players Zach Mercer of Bath and Chiefs’ Ben Moon are named as replacements.
On England’s preparation ahead of Saturday, Jones said: “We’ve become very well-organised in our set-piece and have done a lot of good work in Portugal over the last week. We have put in a new defence system and our attack looks more organised than it was on the South Africa tour.
“Against South Africa you have got the physical battle up front and then you have to be tactically smart in how you attack against them. We need to find ways to gain momentum, then once we find momentum, convert that to points.
“We are really excited to be back at Twickenham Stadium. It’s been a long time and we can’t wait to play in front of 82,000 fans.”
England starting XV 15 Elliot Daly (Wasps) 14 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 12 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) 11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens) co-captain 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs) 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) co-captain 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens) 5 George Kruis (Saracens) 6 Brad Shields (Wasps) 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) 8 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Replacements 16 Jamie George (Saracens) 17 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs) 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs) 19 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby) 20 Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) 21 Danny Care (Harlequins) 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers) 23 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
