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Cape Town - England Saxons have made three changes to their starting XV for their second test against South Africa 'A' on Friday.
Having won the first test 24-32, the Saxons now travel to George to face South Africa 'A' at Outeniqua Park.
Christian Wade comes off the bench to start, replacing the injured Alex Lewington, while Dave Ewers comes in to start at blindside flanker, with Don Armand moving to Number 8. Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Hill comes onto the bench.
"We’ve got to improve again. South Africa will come back with an improved performance and so we need to make a shift as big, if not bigger than they do," coach Ali Hepher said.
"We’ve been working on certain things in training so that we can put more into the game and take our opportunities better when they come. We’ll be looking to be more clinical this week.
"Unfortunately Alex Lewington has picked up an injury and so is not available. There were a couple of big performances off the bench last time and so those players have pushed their cases to make the starting line-up."
A strong Saxons first half last Friday, which saw tries from Alec Hepburn, Samesa Rokoduguni and Dan Robson, secured the first test win.
However, South Africa 'A' fought back in the second period hauling themselves to within a point before Ollie Devoto landed a final minute try to leave the final score 24-32.
Reflecting on the game, Hepher added: “We handled South Africa’s physicality well, where we need to improve is in our organisation and understanding, to be smart in the way we play. We’ve had more time to gel together as a side and I think we’re more than capable of matching and beating their physicality with the team we have got.”
The side travelled directly from Bloemfontein to Cape Town where they have since been training before they go on to George tomorrow for the final game of this two-match series.
Teams:
South Africa 'A'
15 Leolin Zas, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Oupa Mohoje (captain), 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit
Substitutes: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Lizo Gqoboka, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Ntando Kebe, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Travis Ismaiel
England Saxons
15 Mike Haley, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Chrisrian Wade, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Don Armand, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Dave Attwood (c), 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Alec Hepburn
Substitutes: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Micky Young, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Same James
