“We are expecting a wet and windy day at Newlands and have elected to play Danny Cipriani ahead of George Ford to give us a left-foot kicking option,” explained coach Eddie Jones.
His inclusion in place of Ford is one of four changes – three enforced – from the team that lost the second Test and the series in Bloemfontein last weekend. Loosehead prop Joe Marler replaces Mako Vunipola, who returned home last weekend for family reasons.
Number eight Billy Vunipola, Mako’s brother, was ruled out of the Cape Town finale by injury, and Nathan Hughes comes in.
Illness forced at change at loose forward with Brad Shields sidelined and Chris Robshaw recalled just one week after being dropped for the first time by Australia-born Jones.
There are three chances to the bench with prop Alex Hepburn, lock Jonny Hill and loose forward Sam Simmonds promoted in a 6-2 forwards/backs split. Jones said: “We will need to jump out of the blocks quickly again and make sure we maintain that pressure and make good decisions.
“I have been really impressed with the fortitude of the squad under Owen Farrell, who is a young captain, and with a number of young players who have really stuck to the task.
“We have had a really upbeat training week. We are up for the battle and are going to rip in on Saturday.
“I want another committed performance where it will be crucial to maintain our composure when the heat is on.”
While only pride is at stake after South Africa won 42-39 in Johannesburg and 23-12 in Bloemfontein, England are desperate to snap a five-Test losing streak. Before touring South Africa, England lost Six Nations Championship matches against Scotland in Edinburgh, France in Paris and Ireland in London. The dramatic loss of form came after Jones had won 24 of his first 25 Tests since succeeding Stuart Lancaster in 2015.
Team (15-1)
Elliot Daly; Jonny May, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell (capt), Mike Brown; Danny Cipriani, Ben Youngs; Nathan Hughes, Tom Curry, Chris Robshaw; Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Alec Hepburn, Harry Williams, Jonny Hill, Mark Wilson, Sam Simmonds, Ben Spencer, Denny Solomona.
Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS).
SA pick ‘retired’ 37-year-old sub, change five
South Africa have included “retired” 37-year-old Schalk Brits as a replacement and made five changes for a dead-rubber third Test against England in Cape Town tomorrow.
Former SpringBoks hooker Brits recently announced his retirement having helped Saracens win the English Premiership. He returned home to meet friends and watch the England series only to get a shock call-up because coach Rassie Erasmus valued his experience so much.
With injured first choice hooker Malcolm Marx unavailable, South Africa started with Bongi Mbonambi and brought on Akker van der Merwe for the first and second Tests. Erasmus has rested both for Cape Town, giving experienced Chiliboy Ralepelle a start with Brits poised to come off the bench. Full-back Warrick Gelant, centres Jesse Kriel and Andre Esterhuizen, fly-half Elton Jantjies and Ralepelle come in after a series-clinching 23-12 win last weekend. They replace Willie le Roux, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Handre Pollard and Mbonambi for the tour finale at Newlands stadium. Referring to the changes, Erasmus said: “No one is out of the team because of a lack of form. The changes are due to our long-term planning for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as we continue to build squad depth and capacity. The series might be won, but we still have an important Test match on Saturday. We are going to face a very determined English side who will be looking to end the series on a high,
“I expect a very physical and close-fought game. We are desperate to win and make it 3-0 while England will be desperate to win the game and make it 2-1.” While praising the SpringBoks for victories in Johannesburg (42-29) and Bloemfontein, Erasmus said he wants to see much more improvement. He vowed that there was no danger of South Africa “getting carried away” by the two close-fought triumphs.
