England manager Martin Johnson has recalled blind-side flanker James Haskell for the showdown with world champions South Africa. Haskell's inclusion in place of Tom Croft is the only change on Saturday to England's starting XV from last weekend's 28-14 defeat to Australia.
Croft is included among the replacements and is joined on the bench by uncapped Leicester number eight Jordon Crane, who has replaced Michael Lipman in the squad.
Otherwise, Johnson has kept faith with the tight five that struggled to impose themselves against the Wallabies and named the same back division for a third week running.
Haskell was one of the few England players to return from the summer tour of New Zealand with his reputation enhanced after two impressive performances against the All Blacks.
He lost his place to Croft, after making a slow start to the season in a struggling Wasps side. But Haskell made an immediate impression when he came off the bench last weekend and he will offer a more physical presence against the dynamic Springbok back row.
South Africa have delayed their team announcement by 48 hours due to injuries. Springboks coach Peter de Villiers was due to finalise his squad today but has not had "sufficient time to assess the injury situation and confirm the availability of players".
De Villiers will now name his team at 12.30pm on Thursday.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis and prop Gurthro Steenkamp are both definitely out of Saturday's World Cup final rematch after suffering hamstring and ankle injuries respectively in the Springboks' 14-10 victory over Scotland at the weekend.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is a doubt after withdrawing from the Scotland game with a strained quadriceps muscle. His injury requires further assessment before a decision on his availability can be made.
Prop Brain Mujati has a bruised shoulder and Bryan Habana took a blow to the thigh but team doctor Craig Roberts expects both to be fit for selection. Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis, who was called up on Sunday to cover for possible withdrawals in the frontrow, has joined the squad in London.
England: D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), R Flutey (Wasps), U Monye (Harlequins); D Cipriani (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Palmer (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester).
