England vs South Africa: Jonny May calls for squad to step up and fill experience void left by Mike Brown exit

Seventy-two-cap full-back has been left out of the squad that will take on the Springboks this weekend

Jonny May believes the decision to drop Mike Brown from the England squad means that a number of players, including himself, must step up and fill the void to prevent their inexperience shining through.

The 72-cap full-back was one of the 10 players sent home from the training camp in Portugal, having been left out of this Saturday’s Quilter International against South Africa.

It is the first time that Brown has been dropped by Eddie Jones, and leaves him fighting for his future given the options available to the head coach both at 15 and at out on the wing. But for May, who is very much England’s most in-form international having scored seven tries in his last seven tests, it is up to the rest of the squad to now show they have what it takes to cut it at the highest level without someone else there to hold their hand.

“Obviously it’ll be different because he’s been a constant,” May said on Wednesday. “Every time I’ve played for England he’s been there.

“It’s a squad effort. We said goodbye to the boys yesterday, they did a brilliant job in terms of helping the boys and they’ll come in next week and help the boys and some of them might play next time.

“Mike Brown always gives 100 per cent on the training field and on game day. Nothing will change with him. Not having him here is obviously a bit different.

“But now it’s time to focus on who we do have.”

From the 25 players that Jones retained on Tuesday, one forward and one back will be cut to form Saturday’s match-day squad, though Jones has remained tight-lipped on who will form his new-look starting XV this week.

But it does appear that Maro Itoje will remain in the second-row with George Kruis, allowing Brad Shields to return to his role of blindside flanker after missing the third Test against the Springboks in June due to illness. With Sam Underhill sent home, Tom Curry is nailed on for openside flanker, with uncapped Zach Mercer likely to fill the No 8 shirt with Ben Morgan also departing earlier this week.

Mike Brown's omission robs the squad of 72 internationals caps (Getty)

Should Itoje and Kruis form the second-row, Jones will have to pick between Bath duo Charlie Ewels and Elliott Stooke as his forward who drops out of the squad, while the unlucky back appears to be a toss-up between George Ford, Ben Te’o, Henry Slade and Manu Tuilagi, depending on what centre partnership Jones decides to go with.

Given the high number of injuries that have hampered the squad – which have claimed Mako and Billy Vunipola, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Chris Robshaw and Sam Simmonds – selection for the first autumn international has been one of the more difficult tasks of Jones’ three seasons in charge, and for that reason May does not envy the position he and his coaching team find themselves in.

Jonny May admits he will have to step up to fill the void left by Brown's absence (Getty ) (Getty)

“Selection must have been pretty tough this week and we have got injuries and people missing and it is only going to get harder and tougher,” May added. “That is a credit to the talent we have got in English rugby.

“It is not our decision and there is no point as individuals to think ‘I am competing against him’ because there is no point me trying to be like someone else. It is just a case of trying to be the best you can be and of course you are desperate to play and hopefully you get picked, but if not you have got to be grateful to be here and if you are here, there or thereabouts, you are going to have a good chance of playing.”