Loosehead Prop

Ellis Genge, Manny Iyogun, Beno Obano

With Baxter and Rodd both unavailable, the identity of the man to join Genge in the match-day squad was completely up in the air. Now it is between Iyogun and Obano. They are similar players, who are both poweful athletes. Both have been in good form as well but I think Obano's experience might give him the edge to start against the Sprinboks. He could find himself taking on his Bath teammate Thomas du Toit.

Hooker

Jamie Blamire, Theo Dan, Jamie George, Kepu Tuipulotu

With Cowan-Dickie and Langdon both out, at least one spot was opened up. Jamie George is the experienced man in the room, and will probably start against South Africa. Dan has consistently been the third-choice player behind George and Cowan-Dickie so he should get a spot on the bench. Blamire's good form has rightly been rewarded whilst Tuipulotu has been backed due to his potential.

Tighthead Prop

Joe Heyes, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Billy Sela

Will Stuart is still out which left a spot open. Opoku-Fordjour is fit once again, and should start on the bench. Sela has been around England squads before and has been given a chance ahead of Fasogbon and Davison after getting enough game time for Bath. His inclusion, along with Tuipulotu and a few others, point to Steve Borthwick looking to bring in a new generation of players to freshen up his squad.

Lock

Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, George Martin

Despite rumours that he was going to be rested, Itoje will captain the team this summer. Ollie Chessum and Alex Coles have become automatic selections and could both line up at blindside flanker this summer. The return of George Martin is huge news for England, who will need his physicality against South Africa. Arthur Clark and Nick Isiekwe will provide some depth to the squad and will likely only get a chance at playing against Fiji.

Back Row

Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock

This is a surprisingly small group. Despite Alex Sanderson wanting him rested, Tom Curry is in the squad. He is joined by Pollock and Pepper as England's openside flanker options with Sam Underhill a surprising omission from the squad, although his absence seems to be due to him having a planned surgery. Chandler Cunningham-South has found some good form at Harlequins and will be joined by his teammate and club captain, Alex Dombrandt. Dombrandt is the only specialist number 8 in the squad, due to the omission of Fisilau, despite failing to consistently impress for England in his previous chances. He is a very good ball-playing number 8 so perhaps his inclusion points to England following the example of the women's team and adopting a more expansive style.

Scrum-half

Charlie Bracken, Archie McParland, Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet

Mitchell, Spencer and van Poortvliet are the incumbent trio whilst Bracken and McParland are the young, exciting options providing some depth, McParland took full advantage of Mitchell's various absences this season and has formed a formidable partnership with Mitchell since the British and Irish Lion's return to the team. Bracken has done well enough for Saracens to be often be picked in the starting line-up ahead of Ivan van Zyl towards the back end of the season.

Fly-half

George Ford, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith

Not much needs to be said here. Fin Smith and George Ford will fight it out for the 10 shirt whilst Marcus Smith will probably be one of two backs on the bench.

Centre

Seb Atkinson, Fraser Dingwall, Bernhard Janse van Rensburg, Henry Slade

Henry Slade is back in the team and will probably only play if he is alongside either van Rensburg or Atkinson. Dingwall is the other playmaking option in the team with Ojomoh once again missing out. Ollie Lawrence is also missing after some very average performances for Bath since the Six Nations. The big news here is the inclusion of van Rensburg, who will only become eligible to play for England after the game against his home country, South Africa. The inclusion of a player who only qualifies on residency will draw some criticism but he has been one of the best centres in England for a few years in a row.

Back 3

Noah Caluori, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Cadan Murley, Adam Radwan, Tom Roebuck, Freddie Steward

Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Furbank, Roebuck, and Steward are all obvious selections but there is some big news here. Most notably, Henry Arundell has been dropped after a poor Six Nations and has been replaced by Adam Radwan. Radwan, along with Caluori, will bring some X-factor to this England team whilst hopefully avoiding the defensive lapses that plagued England earlier this year. 

My Starting XV to play South Africa

1.Ellis Genge 2.Jamie George 3.Joe Heyes 4.Maro Itoje(C) 5.Alex Coles

6.Ollie Chessum 7.Tom Curry 8.Ben Earl 9.Alex Mitchell 10.Fin Smith

11.Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 12.Seb Atkinson 13.Henry Slade 14.Tommy Freeman 15.Freddie Steward

Bench

16.Jamie Blamire 17.Beno Obano 18.Asher Opoku-Fordjour 19.George Martin

20.Chandler Cunningham-South 21.Henry Pollock 22.Ben Spencer 23.Marcus Smith