Mike Brown has dropped out of the England squad for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks at Twickenham.

Michael Rhodes, who had been hoping to make his Test debut against the country of his birth, and Ben Morgan have also failed to make the cut, while Courtney Lawes is still recovering from injury.

Brown, who started all three Tests against the Boks in June, has never previously been dropped by coach Eddie Jones when fully fit.

England’s match 23 will be announced on Thursday.

England 25-man squad:

Forwards – Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) co-captain, Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).

Backs – Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens) co-captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Photo: Kim Ludbrook/EPA