By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-11-06 04:35:20
1 week ago
England go head-to-head against New Zealand for the third time this year in their opening Autumn Nations Series match at Twickenham, aka the Allianz Stadium.
When is the match?
England play New Zealand on Saturday, November 2 at Twickenham.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 3.10pm GMT. Or 3.10am on Sunday morning if you are in New Zealand.
What TV channel is it on?
In the UK and Ireland, every game will be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
What is the latest team news?
England
Henry Slade has convinced England boss Steve Borthwick he is ready to take on New Zealand after being picked at outside centre for Saturday’s clash at the Allianz Stadium.
Slade made his first appearance of the season in Exeter’s defeat by Harlequins on Sunday having undergone shoulder surgery, completing 55 minutes before being withdrawn.
That run out is deemed enough to give him the nod ahead of the in-form Alex Lozowski, with the Chiefs playmaker an influential figure in the team’s aggressive ‘blitz’ defensive system.
The three-way battle at scrum-half has been won by Ben Spencer, who will make his first start for England having won all six previous caps in a five-year Test career off the bench.
Harry Randall edges Jack van Poortvliet as back-up cover on a bench that features a six-two split between forwards and backs, with George Ford the replacement fly-half.
Chandler Cunningham-South is present at blindside flanker after Ollie Chessum was ruled out against the All Blacks – and most likely the entire autumn programme – because of a knee problem.
Cunningham-South has enjoyed a stellar debut year for England and is preferred for the back row vacancy ahead of the more experienced Sam Underhill, who is also overlooked for a substitute role.
Ellis Genge and Will Stuart are the starting props who will be rotated out for Fin Baxter and Dan Cole early in the second half.
Nick Isiekwe, Ben Curry and Alex Dombrandt are the replacement back five forwards.
England XV: G Furbank (Northampton Saints); I Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), O Lawrence (Bath Rugby), T Freeman (Northampton Saints); M Smith (Harlequins), B Spencer (Bath Rugby); E Genge (Bristol Bears), J George (Saracens, capt), W Stuart (Bath Rugby), M Itoje (Saracens), G Martin (Leicester Tigers), C Cunningham-South (Harlequins), T Curry (Sale Sharks), B Earl (Saracens).
Replacements: T Dan (Saracens), F Baxter (Harlequins), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), N Isiekwe (Saracens), B Curry (Sale Sharks), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), H Randall (Bristol Bears), G Ford (Sale Sharks).
New Zealand
Loose forwards Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i have been forced to drop out of the All Blacks squad for their season-ending tour of Japan and Europe due to injury.
Uncapped 21-year-old loose forward Peter Lakai and lock Josh Lord, who featured in the Rugby Championship, have been called up as cover and will travel with the squad on Thursday.
“We are excited to be welcoming Josh back into the group and giving Peter Lakai his chance to wear the All Blacks jersey,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said. “We will assess the status of Ethan, Luke and Dalton’s injuries prior to travelling to England, to determine whether we are going to require that additional injury cover.”
Blackadder has been sidelined by a calf injury, while Jacobson has a fractured thumb and Papali’i is struggling with an upper hamstring issue.
Seven members of the All Blacks XV squad, who will play Munster and Georgia on their November tour, will also be travelling to Japan as training cover.
These players will then join the All Blacks XV squad in Ireland, with the possible exception of one further call-up to cover the 36th spot in the All Blacks squad, the team said.
The All Blacks start their tour against Japan in Yokohama on October 26 before meeting England at Twickenham on November 2. They then face Ireland, France and Italy in successive weeks in November.
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Peter Lakai, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Backs: Cam Roigard, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
What are the latest odds?
- England 6/4
- New Zealand 4/6
- Draw 22/1
What happened the last time these teams played?
England’s summer tour this year was to New Zealand and despite pushing the All Blacks close in both games – 16-15 in the first Test and 24-17 in the second – they ultimately returned home winless.
What is our prediction?
England may have gone down to a 2-0 series defeat on their summer tour, but both matches could have gone either way. And young guns such as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman and George Martin impressed an often hard-to-please New Zealand public. So, with home advantage this time, Borthwick’s men have a fabulous opportunity to claim victory on home turf.
Predicted score: England 23 New Zealand 19
