Trio handed England debuts

England coach Brian Ashton has named three uncapped players in his team for Saturday's first Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Harlequins full-back Mike Brown, Gloucester prop Nick Wood and Sale Sharks lock Dean Schofield will make their debuts.

Brown only made his first team bow for Quins last season, while Wood and Schofield are also rewarded for impressive campaigns with their clubs.

England have travelled to South Africa with a severely-depleted squad and that level of inexperience is inevitably reflected in Ashton's line-up, which has a total of 172 caps.

But 131 of those are shared by just three players - skipper Jason Robinson, fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and hooker Mark Regan.

Regan will pack down in the front row with his fellow 35-year-old, Sale prop Stuart Turner, with Regan making his first Test appearance since the 51-15 defeat against Australia in Brisbane almost three years ago.

There are just three survivors from England's last game, the RBS Six Nations Championship defeat against Wales in Cardiff - Robinson, fellow wing David Strettle and centre Mathew Tait.

England team to play South Africa in the first Test in Bloemfontein on Saturday: M Brown (Harlequins); D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Newcastle), A Farrell (Saracens), J Robinson (Sale Sharks, capt); J Wlkinson (Newcastle), P Richards (Gloucester); N Wood (Gloucester), M Regan (Bristol) S Turner (Sale), D Schofield (Sale), A Brown (Gloucester), C Jones (Sale), A Hazell (Gloucester), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: M Cairns (Saracens), D Crompton (Bristol), R Winters (Bristol), P Sanderson (Worcester), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), T Flood (Newcastle), I Balshaw (Gloucester).