Brown capped off a remarkable season by making his full international debut at full back whilst Easter returned to the international fold playing at number eight, having impressed on his international debut during the Six Nations Championship earlier this year.

David Strettle was selected to start on the right wing but was forced to withdraw from the team due to a stomach virus that swept through the camp in the week leading up to the match. The same illlness forced Saracens centre Andy Farrell and Gloucester scrum half Peter Richards to withdraw on the morning of the test, allowing Gomarsall to win his 24th cap.

The 32 year-old scrum half was back in the England team for the first time since his appearance against Australia at Twickenham in November 2004 but could not prevent South Africa inflicting a record beaking defeat over the World Champions.

England play their second and final test against South Africa this Saturday (2nd June) at Loftus Versfeld.