Freddie Steward was recalled at full-back as England coach Steve Borthwick made three changes to the team to play South Africa in the World Cup semi-final in Paris on Saturday.
Steward was a surprise omission for the quarter-final against Fiji, which England won 30-24, Borthwick instead plumping for specialist fly-half Marcus Smith in the number 15 jersey.
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However, Smith failed his post-match HIA, paving the way for Steward to return.
“My first game coaching at Leicester, I was going through the selection process. I had known Freddie from the England Under-20s, he was new to the squad, from school and then out of the academy. I was deciding who to play at 15 in my first game and I didn’t pick him," Borthwick said.
“Post-game I reflected on that process and I remember watching his face when I told him he wasn’t picked for that game in 2020. Then I thought, ‘this guy wants it, this guy is ready for it, it doesn’t matter how old he is’. So the next week I put him in, and from that point on, he has just been brilliant.
“Everything that has been thrown at him, everything he has been asked to get better at, he goes and gets better at. Out there on the field today he was trying to improve. Even before the session, he is working hard to improve his game. That’s great credit to him and his professionalism.”
Owen Farrell will again skipper the side from fly-half, with Alex Mitchell completing the half-backs while Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant continue in midfield.
Elsewhere the side features two other changes, lock George Martin and prop Joe Marler starting in place of Ollie Chessum and Ellis Genge, who both drop to the replacements bench.
Wingers Elliot Daly and Jonny May complete the back three alongside Steward.
In the front row, Marler starts at loosehead prop alongside Jamie George at hooker and Dan Cole at tighthead.
"We've got three brilliant loose-heads in this squad. Ellis has been terrific and I thought he played really well last week. I think Joe coming back into the squad after some time away has been also an incredible influence around the group. Bevan Rodd is a younger player but I would have no hesitation in Bevan being in the 23 this weekend. So, it's a real competitive position.
"...I think Joe to start and Ellis to finish is the right combination this week."
Maro Itoje and Martin are in the second row with Courtney Lawes on the blindside flank, Tom Curry on the openside and Ben Earl at No 8.
Theo Dan, Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Chessum and Billy Vunipola provide forwards cover, while Danny Care, George Ford and Ollie Lawrence are the backs' replacements.
England (15-1):Freddie Steward; Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell (capt), Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes; George Martin, Maro Itoje; Dan Cole, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence
