Freddie Steward has been recalled to the England XV as one of three changes for Saturday's Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa.

The Leicester Tigers man was left out of Steve Borthwick's 23-man squad for their 30-24 quarter-final win over Fiji, where Marcus Smith was given the nod at full-back.

However, Smith was left bloodied by a clash of heads with Vinaya Habosi, although he came back onto the field after a 13-minute absence, having passed a head injury assessment.

The 24-year-old has been training away from his teammates this week following the collision, though, and he has not made the matchday squad for the showdown with the Springboks.

In Smith's absence, Steward will start at full-back for England, and the 22-year-old's inclusion represents one of three changes made by Borthwick, who has reinstated Joe Marler at loosehead prop in place of Ellis Genge.

George Martin has also been named in the second row ahead of Ollie Chessum, who joins Genge and George Ford on the bench as Owen Farrell captains the 2003 champions at fly-half.

"After an excellent few days preparation in Paris, we look forward to the challenge of playing the World Champions and number one ranked team in the world," Borthwick told englandrugby.com.

"Through this tournament the team has progressed, with the players repeatedly finding a way to win, sometimes in challenging circumstances. We will once again need to be at our very best this weekend as we face an excellent team in South Africa.

"There is no doubt the players will truly relish the challenge of knockout rugby under the lights in Paris. These players will, as they have done in every game of this tournament, give absolutely everything in the semi-final to get the result we want.

"I also know that our supporters will once again be there in their thousands, playing their part in backing the team with a full voice. To all those who have travelled and to all those lending their support and encouragement from home, I say thank you."

England suffered heartbreak against South Africa in the 2019 World Cup final with a 12-32 loss to the Springboks, who also overcame their upcoming opponents 27-13 last November.

The winners of Saturday's semi-final at the Stade de France will vie for the Webb Ellis Cup against either New Zealand or Argentina, who square off in the first semi-final on Friday.

England starting lineup: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell, Mitchell; Marler, George, Cole, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Curry, Earl

Replacements: Dan, Genge, Sinckler, Chessum, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence

South Africa starting lineup: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi, Du Toit, Vermeulen

Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux