Key events
Teams
Steve Borthwick is a consistently sensible man and this is reflected in his “as you were” selection; something that is his hallmark of late. Injury keeps out Ollie Chessum, meaning George Martin partners Maro Itoje in the second row while Tom Curry continues his return from injury as he’s selected at openside. There’s a 6-2 bench which features a return for Nick Isiekwe and Harry Randall.
For the visitors, Beauden Barrett is trusted to bring his cocktail of experience and outrageous yet sensible talent to the 10 shirt, where he partners Cortez Rataima in the halves. Damien McKenzie is among the replacements.
England
George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Ben Earl
Replacements:
Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford
New Zealand
Will Jordan, Mark Tele’a, Reiko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cortez Ratima; Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (captain), Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea
Replacements:
Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie
Preamble
Welcome the the SponsorNameDome here in Twickenham for the curtain raiser of the Autumn International 2024 series for England as they take on the not currently as mighty as they used to be but still probably mighty enough New Zealand.
If one were to view this fixture as the final match in the three test series that started in the summer down in Aotearoa, then for the All Blacks this is a dead rubber given they won both matches back in July. However, England will know how close that mini series was and recall the agony they felt flying home so there’s nothing dead about this game for Steve Borthwick’s men. New Zealand will want a win to see a smoother improvement trendline than has so far been evident under the Scott Robertson regime.
The home side have seen developments in their attacking game in the past 12 months, and if this season’s Premiership season is anything to go by then the ball will be flung about all the circumspection of a Liz Truss budget. But the game is also played without possession and this is the first outing for England since the controversial departure of defence coach Felix Jones.
It was a tight affair a few months ago between the two nations and we can expect more of the same here, methinks.