Henry Pollock will be utilised from the bench for England against South Africa with Steve Borthwick backing Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry and Ben Earl in the back row.
Pollock was named player of the match in the Gallagher Prem final after helping Northampton Saints to the title, but has again been given an impact replacement role in Johannesburg.
Borthwick sticks with a big No 6 in the form of Chessum, who is promoted to vice-captain, with Alex Coles and George Martin forming the second row partnership in the absence of Maro Itoje.
Jack van Poortvliet beats out Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer to partner Fin Smith in the halves, while George Furbank is set for a first England appearance since November 2024 at full-back.
With Immanuel Feyi-Waboso fit to start on the wing, Tommy Freeman continues at outside centre alongside Seb Atkinson after the combination finished the Six Nations together.
England are on a run of four successive defeats after their worst-ever Six Nations campaign and face a tall task against the world champion Springboks at Ellis Park.
“Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we’re excited to embrace,” said Borthwick.
“We’ve prepared well since we arrived here last week and I sense a real excitement within the squad to get our Nations Championship campaign underway.”
A gruelling July itinerary will see England also take on Fiji in Liverpool and Argentina in Santiago del Estero in the new competition, with regular captain Itoje rested. Hooker Jamie George captains in his Saracens’ teammate’s stead.
Borthwick has named six forwards on the bench with Mitchell and Marcus Smith providing backline cover.
England XV to face South Africa in Johannesburg (Saturday 4 July, 4.40pm BST): 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (capt.), 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Alex Coles, 5 George Martin; 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Cadan Murley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Tommy Freeman, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; 15 George Furbank.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Henry Pollock; 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Marcus Smith.
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