England captain Phil Vickery has been named to start the game, despite facing a disciplinary hearing in Paris later today.

Vickery was cited for kicking American centre Paul Emerick, and could be handed a ban that would rule him out of the Springboks showdown.

Wasps back-row forwards Lawrence Dallaglio and Joe Worsley have failed to gain places in the matchday 22. Martin Corry has replaced Worsley at blindside flanker and Harlequins’ Nick Easter takes over from number eight Dallaglio.

Dallaglio was ineffective against the USA, and a miserable afternoon for him concluded when he was sin-binned by referee Jonathan Kaplan.

Easter had an impressive tour for England in South Africa earlier this summer, and he now has a chance to show his quality in England’s biggest game since they won the 2003 World Cup.

Changes in the back division see Jason Robinson moved from wing to full-back instead of Mark Cueto, with Wasps’ Paul Sackey taking over from Robinson on the left wing.

Bath lock Steve Borthwick and Harlequins’ scrum-half Andy Gomarsall are on the bench while England have still to confirm their seventh replacement.

England team to play South Africa in Paris on Friday: J Robinson (unattached); J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), M Catt (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps); O Barkley (Bath), S Perry (Bristol); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Regan (Bristol), P Vickery (Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), A Farrell (Saracens).