England v South Africa: Mike Brown dropped for Springbok Test

By Chris JonesBBC Radio 5 live rugby union reporter

Last updated on 30 October 2018.From the section Rugby Union317

England v South Africa
Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday 3 November Time: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, the BBC Sport website and app; watch highlights on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and online from 19:30 GMT.

Experienced back Mike Brown has been left out of the England squad for Saturday's match with South Africa at Twickenham.

Brown, 33, is not part of a 25-man group retained in camp in Portugal and will return home on Tuesday evening.

Number eight Ben Morgan has also been released, leaving Bath's Zach Mercer in position to make his England debut against the Springboks.

Lock Courtney Lawes has been ruled out with a niggling back problem.

Brown, who has 72 caps, has been an ever-present over the past few years under head coach Eddie Jones, starting all three Test matches against South Africa in June.

His absence means Elliot Daly is likely to start at full-back, with Jonny May and Jack Nowell on the wings.

Chris Ashton, back in English rugby with Sale after a spell at Toulon, has also been retained, and is set for his first England appearance since June 2014.

England's autumn internationals
3 November	South Africa
10 November	New Zealand
17 November	Japan
24 November	Australia

Lawes will remain in Portugal for rehabilitation on his injury, but has not been considered for selection.

"He's a top quality player, and we know that, he's been brilliant over this last period of time," said England forwards coach Steve Borthwick.

"But we have got options."

Bath's uncapped wing Joe Cokanasiga has been released along with Saracens pair Alex Lozowski and Richard Wigglesworth.

In the forwards, Saracens back row Michael Rhodes, Bath flanker Sam Underhill and Worcester prop Nick Schonert are also out of contention.

Schonert's 19-year-old club team-mate Ted Hill - who was in the training camp as an apprentice - has also been released.

England squad to face South Africa:

Forwards: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) co-captain, Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens) co-captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

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317 comments

Comment posted by Olly P, at 16:55 30 Oct 2018
If it is the last time Browny thanks for putting your body on the line and never taking a backward step. Great man to have on your team.
Comment posted by Big Mick, at 17:04 30 Oct 2018
I can't understand why Brown has had so much grief. He's been good for England. Steady player who does the basics well and makes very few mistakes. Just what you need in a fullback.
Comment posted by RugbyBloke, at 17:32 30 Oct 2018
There is so much hate on these HYS about the old and bold that are slowly leaving.

Brown, Haskell, Robshaw et al have been phenomenal sportsmen and ill be sad to see them leave!

There are big gaps to be filled in this team.
Comment posted by Blues Fan, at 18:18 30 Oct 2018
@79. Posted by Rinoflow33 - so England have 5 players not born in England

And Wales current squad has 7. Go figure. The damning statistic that a whopping 6 of Wales 7 were born in England! Perhaps they should play for England in your eyes?

Take your bigotry somewhere else
Comment posted by Angry Beast, at 20:01 30 Oct 2018
@169

Because the BBC think it's more important to give millions to Graham Norton and Chris Evans to satisfy the national obsession with vacuous "celebrity". And then spend the rest of the licence fee on their politically correct agenda.

No rugby, no cricket but plenty of mindless drivel and self serving posturing.

Luckily I have Sky, but I resent paying twice.
Comment posted by ewaf88, at 17:01 30 Oct 2018
So Ben's been left out - just what we need against a powerful SA scrum
Comment posted by FeIchmeister 5000, at 16:57 30 Oct 2018
@12. If you think Goode, Ashton and Jonny May would be a 'world beating' back 3, you need your head examined.
Comment posted by RooStar, at 17:25 30 Oct 2018
This is a good first step but it makes you wonder how much Eddie watches the Premiership or naps whilst in the stands.

Youngs has been terrible for ages, Mercer is young but has not shined at Bath, Stooke the same. Ben Teo?! Cmon, get a grip.

Exeter's back row not getting a single look in,.. Morgan and Cips on form..

I cant see this team beating Aus and NZ.
Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 17:38 30 Oct 2018
@76 Its an odd thing to say of a player who has 72 caps, but has never received a yellow or red card, at international level, OK at club he has, but honestly name me the player, who's played for that long, that hasn't?

Anyway, as ever never let the facts get in the way of a good lie!
Comment posted by Sean G, at 17:17 30 Oct 2018
Brown has been a great servant, but its time to let Daly make the 15 jersey his own. With Nowell and May on either wing, England will have a dynamic back 3 to take advantage on the counter. Also helps that Daly can knock over kicks from 60 metres!
Comment posted by bigjohn, at 18:33 30 Oct 2018
I can't be arsed to post as most comments,are truely hateful.Mr Brown has been a loyal and professional, unlike a lot of post on here.So good luck England
Comment posted by KSlater, at 17:12 30 Oct 2018
This will be a tough game for England to win especially missing some very solid players in Lawes, Launchbury and Ashton. I love Brown exactly the right attitude for international rugby and his skill set is polished but he is a bit older now. The biggest worry has got to be at no.8 very surprised he hasn’t gone for Ben Morgan he is the closest thing to big Billy and go forward
Comment posted by Jon Lawrie, at 20:21 30 Oct 2018
Ben Morgan has proved he can play at international level, is a powerful carrier and has a good instinct for scoring. His omission is baffling.
Comment posted by Mushroom1, at 18:34 30 Oct 2018
The subject of players born in other countries is as old as the hills.

Rugby is mostly a game of the Commonwealth.

People do emigrate!

Australia's captain was born in Kent.

Numerous current All Blacks and Aussie's and Irish were born in the Pacific Islands.

France and Scotland pick South Africans.

And Martin Johnson was from Krypton!
Comment posted by KSlater, at 17:18 30 Oct 2018
56. JimmyC

You couldn’t be more wrong International rugby is a battle and you need in your face players who refuse to take a backwards step. Brown epitomises that warrior spirit and gives everything for the team. I think you may need to go back to watching football 😂
Comment posted by Blues Fan, at 16:48 30 Oct 2018
@12. Posted by KeynesianKid because Goode has it all but one thing, it can't be taught and there is no substitute for it. It's also why Goode looked ordinary at international level.

Pace.
Comment posted by Rsuppards, at 17:25 30 Oct 2018
It will be interesting to see if any of the back three fielded against SA are as steady under the high ball as Brown
Comment posted by Batchy, at 16:51 30 Oct 2018
This is just pure click bate for the Brown haters. Dont forget the last few times we experimented with a new full back it didn't go well so show some respect. Lets hope Daly has grown in that position, or maybe Ashton will be given a shot?
Comment posted by CJS-SARACENS, at 16:39 30 Oct 2018
I have been dreaming of this day for a long time. If we don't select certain players (Wade?) because they lack defensive skills but can attack then why do we pick players who have a good defence but literally no attack?? What is the baseline for picking players? Surely an attacking mind is pretty hard to teach?
Comment posted by U15647195, at 17:00 30 Oct 2018
He has been a good servant to English rugby and still is brilliant under the high ball but hasn’t got the pace to win games anymore,time for a change.Problem for EJ is that none of his current squad play fullback and what I’ve seen of Daly he isn’t an international standard fullback he’s a winger,so what happens will be interesting.With Laws out at least no 4 at 6 But I’m disappointed about Morgan

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