“,”elementId”:”4427e438-8546-48e5-b178-c0979a0cd0c4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Steve Borthwick has decided that small evolutions is the way of progress. His England team is largely the same as that which grew in strength in March, but there is a start for Harlequins’ impressive Chandler Cunningham-South at blindside. Marcus Smith replaces the injured George Ford at stand-off. Northampton youngster Ollie Sleightholme will make an appearance from the bench where he has the returning Tom Curry for company.
“,”elementId”:”6cfcee91-1557-45b0-8308-d23209ff1f6a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
New Zealand: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett
“,”elementId”:”19772b2a-bd5c-4667-893b-a9c15cf8006d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George-captain, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Coles, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Ollie Sleightholme
“,”elementId”:”0026bc20-0776-4d8a-9cfc-dffd353c1c13″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1720245629000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.00 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1720246063000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.07 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1720246063000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.07 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.07″,”title”:”Team”,”Contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Saturday, July 6, 2024 02:40 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Saturday, July 6, 2024 02:00 EDT”},{“id”:”668804ac8f08b8c654ee5eb1″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Welcome to Dunedin where New Zealand and England kick off their two-Test series; a brace of matches that will answer some questions for both sides. Among them are: is England’s improvement since the Calcutta Cup loss built on solid foundations? Are the All Blacks under their new coach able to shake off the feeling of underachievement that haunted the previous regime? And will Scott Robertson still do that stupid sodding breakdancing if they win, even at international level?
“,”elementId”:”48b72d86-d96f-4c72-a2a1-83370855e6c6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
You can prove anything with facts, they say. And it’s a fact that since Martin Johnson led that heroic rearguard victory in 2003 England haven’t won in Aotearoa, which emphasises the presenting task for Steve Borthwick’s charges today. Even with a transitioning NZ squad to face, a victory here is remains rare as a 2024 “red wall” Conservative.
“,”elementId”:”d43d7026-1a84-428b-998b-bc80ffde5214″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
It’s also a fact – albeit a hard one to believe – that England haven’t come ashore in New Zealand since 2014, this being their first trip here for a decade. This is new territory for all of the visiting squad, while no one in the home 23 have faced today’s opponents on such familiar soil either.
“,”elementId”:”84a35a65-45f9-491d-88b3-58ec7f0991fa”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Much uncertainty to ponder as we wait for kick off.
“,”elementId”:”52b21134-3cc9-43f1-aeb3-0729c0f7d98b”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1720245629000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.00 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1720246052000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.07 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1720245629000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.00 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.00″,”title”:”Preface”,”Contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Saturday, July 6, 2024 02:40 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Saturday, July 6, 2024 02:00 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false}”>
Important Events
It was the first time the two teams had met in New Zealand for 10 years, with the All Blacks narrowly winning 28-27 at the venue today in the final game of the tour.
Pre-match reading
I asked a few questions in the preamble earlier, but I’d like to know what questions you’re hoping to answer in the match.
Either email me and die, Formerly on Twitter.
team
Scott Robertson kicked open the door, strode in and announced his arrival with some big decisions: Beauden Barrett was benched in favour of Steven Perofota at fullback, while his brother Scott, a man who looked likely to be carded within seconds, was named captain, and Richie Mo’unga was sidelined in favour of the mercurial Damian McKenzie, who played the full game at number 10.
Manager Steve Borthwick has decided that small evolutions are the way to progress, and his England team will be largely the same as the one strengthened in March, with Harlequins’ impressive Chandler Cunningham-South starting at blindside and Marcus Smith replacing the injured George Ford at stand-off. Northampton youngster Ollie Slateholm will come on from the bench, alongside the returning Tom Curry.
new zealand: 15 Steven Perofeta, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Damien McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papali, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrell Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
replacement: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Va’ai, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett
England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Faye-Wabosso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stewart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Joe Marler
replacement: 16 Theo Dunne, 17 Finn Baxter, 18 Dan Coles, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Finn Smith, 23 Ollie Slateholm
preamble
Welcome to Dunedin, where New Zealand and England begin a two-Test series. These two matches will answer several questions for both teams. Among them: is England’s progress since their Calcutta Cup defeat built on solid foundations? Can the All Blacks, under their new coach, shake off the sense of underachievement that plagued the previous administration? And will Scott Robertson still be doing that ridiculous breakdance, even if he wins at international level?
It is often said that facts can prove anything, and it is true that England have not won in Aotearoa since Martin Johnson’s heroic defensive triumph in 2003, highlighting the challenge for today’s team under Steve Borthwick. Even against a New Zealand side in transition, a win here as the 2024 “red wall” Conservatives remains a rare possibility.
It’s hard to believe, but this will be England’s first visit to New Zealand in 10 years, having last visited in 2014. This is uncharted territory for the entire visiting team, with none of the home 23 players having faced today’s opponents on such familiar ground.
There’s a lot of uncertainty to think about as we wait for kickoff.
