Gloucester RFC

Four Gloucester players are in the England Rugby team to play South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Prop Nick Wood wins his first cap, while Andy Hazell and Alex Brown are also in the pack.

Speaking to the BBC's Alastair Hignell, Nick Wood said he's pleased to get his chance:

Gloucester's Nick Wood

Departing scrum half Peter Richards gets the nod in the number 9 shirt ahead of former Gloucester star Andy Gomarsall who's on the replacements bench along with Iain Balshaw.

Nick Wood said:

"When I was told the news about my first cap I felt a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

"My friends and family were all pleased for me when I told them the news and we've been exchanging a few texts since.

"The training on the tour has been good and this Saturday we would have been together for nearly two weeks and I've got to know the other players pretty quickly.

"I've enjoyed my season at Gloucester and learned a lot and Dean Ryan stuck with me when I had a couple of not so good games.

"I've come through those and I'm now looking forward to Saturday.

"I'll be very much focusing on my game, the front row and England's preparations over the next few days and we all know we face a big challenge against South Africa.

"The game will have a lot of physicality and it will be very intense."

England Team v South Africa 

Saturday May 26, Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, 3pm (2pm GMT)

15 *Mike Brown (NEC Harlequins)
14 David Strettle (NEC Harlequins)
13 Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons)
12 Andy Farrell (Saracens)
11 Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks, captain)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons)
9 Peter Richards (Gloucester Rugby)
1 *Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
2 Mark Regan (Bristol Rugby
3 Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks)
4 *Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks)
5 Alex Brown (Gloucester Rugby) 
6 Chris Jones (Sale Sharks)
7 Andy Hazell (Gloucester Rugby)
8 Nick Easter (NEC Harlequins)

Replacements

16 Matt Cairns (Saracens)
17 Darren Crompton (Bristol Rugby)
18 Roy Winters (Bristol Rugby)
19 Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors)
20 Andy Gomarsall (NEC Harlequins)
21 Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons)
22 Iain Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby)

*Denotes new cap