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England recall Slade for Fiji as pressure mounts on Borthwick / Photo: © AFP
England recall Slade for Fiji as pressure mounts on Borthwick
England have recalled Henry Slade for their crucial Nations Championship clash against Fiji in Liverpool on Saturday as coach Steve Borthwick bids to avoid a sixth straight defeat.
Slade did not feature at all during England's woeful Six Nations, where they lost four out of their five games.
But the 33-year-old centre had a strong finish to the domestic season, leading Exeter to the Prem final, and impressed off the bench during England's comprehensive 45-21 defeat by world champions South Africa in their Nations Championship opener in Johannesburg last week.
Slade's return means Northampton's Tommy Freeman is deployed in his more familiar wing role following a year-long effort to convert him into an outside centre.
Guy Pepper changes places with the benched Tom Curry at openside flanker in the only other alteration to the England starting XV well beaten by the Springboks.
Marcus Smith continues at full-back after being a late addition to the team against South Africa when George Furbank was ruled out of the remainder of the July fixtures by appendicitis.
Meanwhile, the uncapped trio of South Africa-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori and George Kloska could all make their Test debuts off the bench.
On paper, Fiji represent the weakest of England's three opponents in a July phase of the Nations Championship which finishes with a tough assignment away to Argentina next weekend.
Fiji started the Nations Championship with a 39-24 defeat by Wales in Cardiff but did beat England 30-22 in a World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham three years ago.
And the fact Borthwick has resisted making wholesale changes to his side following England's decisive loss to the Springboks, and ahead of what is sure to be a gruelling encounter with the Pumas, demonstrates the importance of Saturday's match.
Defeat by Fiji would certainly lead to renewed pressure on Borthwick, a former England captain.
"We've had a really positive week of preparation, and the players have worked hard in training," said Borthwick after naming his team on Thursday.
"We know Fiji will provide a tough challenge. They are a dangerous side who will demand the very best from us."
Although Saturday's match is being played at the home of Premier League club Everton, it is technically a Fiji 'home game', with the Pacific islanders staging their July fixtures in Britain for financial reasons.
"It's fantastic to be playing at Hill Dickinson Stadium, which is an outstanding venue," said Borthwick.
"There is a real passion for rugby across the north of England, and we're looking forward to experiencing a brilliant atmosphere in Liverpool."
England (15-1)
Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Seb Atkinson,Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; Fin Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Ollie Chessum; George Martin, Alex Coles; Joe Heyes, Jamie George (capt), Ellis Genge
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, George Kloska, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori
Coach: Steve Borthwick (ENG)
P.A. Mendes--JDB
