George Furbank just can’t catch a break. The 29-year-old full-back has been ruled out of England’s Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg this Saturday. The culprit? A sudden case of appendicitis. He fell ill on Friday evening, shattering his hopes of making his first international appearance in nearly two years.
Marcus Smith shifts to the 15 shirt to cover the void. Henry Slade joins the bench. Steve Borthwick’s squad faces a brutal test against the world champion Springboks at the legendary Ellis Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 16:40 BST.
It is a bitter pill to swallow. Furbank’s selection had been the talking point of Thursday’s team announcement. Borthwick had praised his resilience, noting how the player had overcome countless setbacks that would have broken lesser men. Since his last cap in November 2024, Furbank has battled through arm, calf, knee, and concussion injuries. This latest medical emergency is just cruel. Former England fly-half Paul Grayson called it a massive blow to England’s attack and backfield leadership.
Furbank had clawed his way back to the top. After a stellar 2024, injuries derailed him, but he returned to guide Northampton to a Premiership title before securing a summer move to Harlequins.
He is not the only one watching from the sidelines. The Springboks have their own casualty ward. Double World Cup winners Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi were both ruled out late with injuries sustained after Monday’s team announcement. Pieter-Steph du Toit steps up as captain, moving into the second row. Paul de Villiers and Cameron Hanekom slot into the back row alongside Jasper Wiese, while Ben-Jason Dixon joins the bench.
England Lineup: Smith; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chessum, Curry, Earl.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Obano, Opoku-Fordjour, Ewels, Pepper, Pollock, Mitchell, Slade.
South Africa Lineup: Willemse; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Libbok, Williams; Nche, Marx, T du Toit, P-S du Toit (c), Nortje, De Villiers, Hanekom, Wiese.
Replacements: Wessels, Steenekamp, Porthen, Van Staden, Dixon, Reinach, Esterhuizen, Moodie.
