'All-court' Janse van Rensburg backed to make Test impact

Benhard Janse van Rensburg's ability to make hits in defence and plays in attack will add to England's midfield says senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth.

Janse van Rensburg briefly represented South Africa's under-20s more than a decade ago, but is eligible for England after the Rugby Football Union successfully questioned whether he was tied to the Springboks at Test level.

The 29-year-old Bristol star is poised to win his first England cap against Fiji in Liverpool on Saturday.

"He brings an all-court game, doesn't he?," said Wigglesworth.

"I enjoy how he wants to hit and loves the physical side of the game, but he also wants the ball on the other side.

"If he gets a chance I'm sure that's what he'll show us as well."

Janse van Rensburg, who qualifies for England after five years playing in the country, has been named in the Prem team of the season for the past three campaigns.

He can play both inside and outside centre, increasing the possible combinations that England could deploy as they attempt to avoid a sixth straight Test defeat.

Gloucester's hard-running Seb Atkinson, who topped the Prem's regular-season stats for gain-line carries, appears to have emerged as first-choice inside centre. The 24-year-old has started England's past three Tests.

England have attempted to convert wing Tommy Freeman into a gainline-breaking 13 over the past year, with seven of his past nine appearances coming at outside centre.

Max Ojomoh and Henry Slade are the other midfield options in the squad.

Janse van Rensburg came on as a second-half replacement for Atkinson in a non-cap match against a France XV last month, indicating that England may prefer him as a 12 initially.

England are attempting to bounce back from a 45-21 defeat by South Africa in Johannesburg which followed Six Nations losses to France, Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

Steve Borthwick's side have been critical of their start against the Springboks. They leaked three tries in the opening 11 minutes at Ellis Park.

Fly-half Fin Smith described his team as "soft defensively", while prop Ellis Genge bluntly told a post-match squad huddle, external that periods of their performance were unacceptable.

Fiji lost their opening game of the new Nations Championship as well, going down 39-24 to Wales.