England announced their squad 48 hours before the crucial first Test in Dunedin on Saturday, throwing down a challenge to the All Blacks. There are two changes to the starting 15, with props Joe Marler and Will Stuart both selected in the front row, while Harlequins’ Finn Baxter and Northampton’s Ollie Slateholm come off the bench and are in line to earn their first caps.
Baxter and Slateholm were joined by Alex Coles and Ben Spencer as substitutes, with Bevan Rodd, the suspended Charlie Ewels, Harry Randall and Tom Roebuck all absent from Matchday 23. Dan Cole, who was on the bench, won his 114th cap, joining Jason Leonard as England’s most capped male forward.
But England manager Steve Borthwick resisted the temptation to announce his squad two days early and split his forwards six-for-two on the bench, as he did before last month’s 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo.
As expected, Marcus Smith will retain his place at fly-half and England will be hoping to showcase the attacking progress they have made in recent months, with the touring squad including seven of the 23 players who featured in the 19-7 semi-final win over the All Blacks in 2019.
England have not won on New Zealand soil since 2003, but they have had decent recent records elsewhere against this weekend’s opponents. In addition to winning in Yokohama in 2019, England held the All Blacks to a 25-25 draw at Twickenham the last time they met in 2022. Captain Jamie George and lock Maro Itoje also featured for the British and Irish Lions Test team that won the series in a 1-1 draw in 2017.
Borthwick said his players were ready to take on the All Blacks on their home soil. “It doesn’t get any harder than playing New Zealand at home but that’s exactly what we want,” he said. “We want to find out more about ourselves and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.”
“Test rugby is a very close game so mindset will be really important when we come into the game on Saturday – we have to be mentally strong, play a tactically smart game and remain disciplined. Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin is a fantastic venue with a fast surface and with the roof closed the atmosphere should be very special.”
New Zealand are not due to announce their squad until Thursday.
After newsletter promotion
England XV v New Zealand on Saturday: G Firbank, I Feyiwaboso, H Slade, O Lawrence, T Freeman, M Smith, A Mitchell, J Marler, J George (captain), W Stuart, M Itoje, G Martin, C Cunningham-South, S Underhill, B Earl.
replacement: T Dunn, F Baxter, D Cole, A Coles, T Currie, B Spencer, F Smith, O Slateholm.
