ENGLAND HAVE RECALLED experienced props Joe Marler and Will Stuart to face the All Blacks in the first Test in Dunedin this Saturday, as coach Steve Borthwick named his team early.
Marler and Stuart will pack down in the front row either side of captain Jamie George in the only changes to the England team which thrashed Japan 52-17 in Tokyo 10 days ago.
Uncapped prop Fin Baxter and wing Ollie Sleightholme โ son of former England wing Jon Sleightholme โ are poised to make their first appearances for their country from the bench.
โIt doesnโt get more challenging than playing New Zealand at home,โ Borthwick told reporters in Auckland.
โWeโll need to be mentally strong, play a tactically smart game and ensure we maintain our discipline.โ
New Zealand will name their team on Thursday.
The second Test is a week later at Aucklandโs Eden Park, where the All Blacks have not lost since 1994.
The two-Test series sees Scott Robertson starting his tenure as All Blacks coach.
England have won eight of 43 Tests against the All Blacks, but only two of those victories were on New Zealand soil.
The hosts have not played since losing the Rugby World Cup final to South Africa in Paris in October, while England finished third in this yearโs Six Nations.
New Zealand had a boost on Tuesday when veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu said he was fit to play.
Tuipulotu injured his knee in early June, which had threatened to end his season.
However he recovered quickly in time to lead the Auckland Blues to the Super Rugby title a fortnight ago when they beat the Waikato Chiefs in the final.
Tuipulotu has come through training with the All Blacks this week without problems.
โThe knee felt good. It hasnโt held me back. Iโm stoked and the coaches are too,โ Tuipulotu told reporters in Wellington. โIโm getting stuck into everything.โ
He is poised to partner new All Blacks captain Scott Barrett in the second row.
Tuipulotu predicts the new-look All Blacks will play an expansive style under Robertson, but only if their forwards can dominate the English pack.
โWe will want to match them up front and win that area,โ he added. โWe want to be strong in our set piece and then be able to finish out wide.โ
England
George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham-South; George Martin, Maro Itoje; Will Stuart, Jamie George (captain), Joe Marler
Replacements: Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholme
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Think England will hold their own. Scary to think what razor could do with all this talent though with buy in. very interesting rugby championship coming up this year ..
It will be interesting to see a Scott Robinson All Black team, hopefully trash England.
Expect England to rattle them. England favourites for next world Cup imo. Serious strength in depth in all positions.
@Ray Ridge: You must be sad the best full back in the world (Freddie) isnโt playing but maybe England can still manage even slumming it with Furman!
Jeepers Marler looks old af.
@Thesaltyurchin: And heโs 3 nearly 4 years younger than Healy haha