Fiji v England: Henry Slade returns to England starting line-up

Center Henry Slade, who did not play a single minute in England’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year, has been recalled to the starting line-up to face Fiji on Saturday as head coach Steve Borthwick looks to avoid a sixth successive Test defeat.

Slade, 33, has previously admitted he was disappointed to be left out of England’s midfield equation. He finished the domestic season in excellent form, taking Exeter to the Prem final.

His return means Northampton’s Tommy Freeman moves into his accustomed wing position after a year-long experiment to develop him into an outside centre.

Guy Pepper replaces the outfield winger in the other change to the starting XV, while the unrestricted trio of Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori and George Kloska are set to make their debuts from the bench.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Heyes, Coles, Martin, Chess, Pepper, Earl.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Kloska, Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, Janse van Rensburg, Caluori.