England turn to Steward for South Africa aerial battle

LONDON :England fullback Freddie Steward, scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet, flanker Sam Underhill and winger Ollie Sleightholme will all start against South Africa on Saturday as coach Steve Borthwick seeks to end a run of four successive defeats.

Steward was an England regular before losing his slot to George Furbank during the Six Nations, but his aerial abilities, combined with law changes that encourage more contestable kicks, helped persuade Borthwick to bring him back and leave Furbank out of the matchday squad named on Thursday.

Van Poortvliet, a favourite of Borthwick's when he led Leicester to the Premiership title, was also first choice before an ankle injury kept him out of the World Cup and takes over from Ben Spencer, with Harry Randall again providing bench cover.

It will be a big blow to Spencer, who started the defeats against New Zealand and Australia, his first starts in a six-year career, but after eight international appearances he is still without a win, having played in seven defeats and a draw.

Sleightholme, who looked sharp when scoring two tries off the bench last week, gets his first start in place of concussion-absent Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, with Tommy Freeman switching to the right wing and Tom Roebuck on the bench.

Underhill, who started nine consecutive tests before being dropped for the November opener against New Zealand, is back at openside flanker after Tom Curry was also ruled out after suffering a concussion against New Zealand.

Having lost twice in New Zealand in July then at home to the All Blacks and Australia in the last two weeks - after leading all four games late on - Borthwick is desperate to get back to winning ways.

CONTESTABLE KICKS

"Fred's training has been exceptional, his attitude