Fiji vs England: Henry Slade returns to England’s starting line-up

Center Henry Slade, who did not play a single minute of England’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year, has been called into the starting line-up to face Fiji on Saturday as head coach Steve Borthwick attempts to avoid a sixth successive Test defeat.

Slade (33 years old) admitted earlier that he felt frustrated at being left out of the England midfield equation., external He finished the domestic season in excellent form, leading Exeter to the Prem final.

His return means Northampton’s Tommy Freeman has been deployed in the more familiar wing position after a year-long trial converting to an outside position.

Jay Pepper replaces Tom Curry at the open wing in the other change to the starting XV, while the uncapped trio of Beinhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Calori and George Kloska are set to make their Test debut off the bench.

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England: M Smith. Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Vei-Wabuso; F. Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Hayes, Coles, Martin, Chisum, Pepper, Earl.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Opoku Fordjour, Kloska, Carey, Pollock, Mitchell, Janse van Rensburg, Calori.

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Slade was called up late for the 23-match defeat to South Africa last Saturday, where he was left on the bench after starting full-back George Furbank suffered appendicitis.

He replaced injured winger Kadan Morley in the 54th minute, and England finished off a 45-21 defeat by the Springboks with the same backline they named as the starter against Fiji.

“We’ve had a really positive week of preparation and the players have worked hard in training,” Borthwick said.

“We know Fiji will be a tough challenge. They are a dangerous team and will demand better from us.”

England’s defeat to South Africa follows a dismal Six Nations campaign that saw losses to Scotland, Ireland, Italy and France.

While Borthwick have been backed to reach the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia by Rugby Football Union chiefs, their faith and that of the fanbase in England will be tested if their streak extends to the sixth Test.

England will travel to Argentina on July 18 in the final round of the summer phase of the New Nations Championship.