Cadan Murley in line for England start against South Africa

Murley, 26, earned his first senior cap in the 2025 Six Nations against Ireland, scoring a try before a foot injury curtailed his involvement. He has since built a reputation for big‑game temperament at Harlequins, including a hat‑trick in the 2024–25 Champions Cup opening game against the Stormers and a starring role in the 2021 Premiership final win over Exeter Chiefs. His recent performances for England A – a hat‑trick against Portugal in February 2024 and two tries against Australia A later that year – have cemented his case for a Test start.

“He’s probably not got as many caps as he should have had,” said former England rugby league captain Kevin Sinfield in a Guardian interview. “I’d have loved to have played alongside him because he’s so positive… He’s had some setbacks and some injuries over the last couple of years but I think his game’s improving with every single game.”

Media additions

“I’m buzzing. There aren’t many people who get the opportunity to play the world champs in their backyard. If I get that opportunity I’ll be so excited. Representing my country is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid.”

Cadan Murley, wing, via The Guardian

The change arrives after a “leaked” England team sheet circulated on social media, reported by Ruck. That leak suggested Murley and Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso would start, while teenage sensation Noah Caluori – who logged 18 tries in his debut season with Saracens – would miss out.

Planet Rugby’s predicted line‑up also placed Murley on the wing, pairing him with Feyi‑Waboso and George Furbank in a back three designed to “exploit the wide channels”. The outlet noted that both Murley and Feyi‑Waboso combine “lightning pace and genuine power in the contact”, attributes Borthwick hopes to use against the Boks’ famed defence.

Meanwhile, the Yahoo report confirmed that Pollock, man of the match in the 2024 Premiership final, will begin the game on the bench. Full‑back George Furbank, who has not started a Test since November 2024, is set to wear the No 15 shirt, while Jamie George retains the captaincy.

Murley’s inclusion also dovetails with broader squad dynamics. The 36‑man touring party, listed by Kick Off, features five uncapped players – Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori, Greg Fisilau, George Kloska and Vilikesa Sela – reflecting Borthwick’s rebuild after a Six Nations campaign that produced four consecutive losses. Janse van Rensburg, South Africa‑born centre, will be ineligible for the opening Test due to a three‑year residency clause, but is expected to debut against Fiji a week later.

England’s recent form adds urgency. The side has won only two Tests in South Africa since 2000, the last at Ellis Park coming in 1972. The Springboks, meanwhile, are on a home‑soil winning streak, making the selection gamble on Murley a calculated risk to revive England’s attacking edge.

Sinfield, now a skills coach for the national side, stressed the learning opportunity: “I think the next three weeks are going to be a real challenge for us to see where we’re at and whether we’ve learnt those lessons and how far we can move forward with this group,” he told The Guardian. His words echo the coaching staff’s intent to blend “ball‑in‑hand” play with a hard‑hitting forward pack.

What to watch next

• Murley’s first Test start – will his club form translate to the international stage?
• How England’s back‑three combine pace and power against the Springbok defence.
• Impact of Pollock off the bench – can he swing momentum in the second half?
• Mid‑tour debut of Benhard Janse van Rensburg against Fiji on 11 July.
• Follow‑up Tests: England vs Fiji in Liverpool (11 July) and England vs Argentina in Santiago del Estero (18 July).

Murley’s selection also reflects his steady climb documented on his Wikipedia page: debut in 2018, Premiership champion in 2021, top try‑scorer in the 2022/23 season, and a series of international A‑team performances that kept him in Borthwick’s radar.