England without two injured stars as Steve Borthwick names team with seven changes to face the All Blacks in huge Test
Steve Borthwick looked forward to the ‘special challenge’ of facing New Zealand but his England team will have to do so without Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum.
After wins over Australia and Fiji so far this autumn took them to a nine-match unbeaten run and into fourth place in World Rugby’s rankings, the All Blacks are next up for an upwardly-mobile and confident England.
But for what promises to be a monumental and campaign-defining game, head coach Borthwick has made seven changes to the team that beat Fiji.
Both wing Freeman and lock Chessum are out due to hamstring and foot injuries suffered against the Pacific Islanders. As first-choice starters if fit and British & Irish Lions, their absence this weekend is a big blow given the strength of opposition.
Freeman is replaced on the right wing by the returning Tom Roebuck who missed Fiji with an ankle knock. In Chessum’s absence, the second-row pairing is captain Maro Itoje and Northampton’s Alex Coles.
Freddie Steward returns to the full-back position.
Steve Borthwick has named his team to face New Zealand in this weekend’s huge Test
Steward also missed Fiji, but is back at No 15 in place of Marcus Smith. Borthwick has resisted the temptation to throw Elliot Daly back into action after he recovered from a broken arm.
‘I’m pleased with the progress we are making,’ said Borthwick.
‘Without doubt, New Zealand are one of the best teams in the world and facing them is always a special challenge.
‘Playing in front of a packed-out Allianz Stadium means a huge amount to the players. The support we’ve had throughout this series has been outstanding and we want it loud again on Saturday.’
Itoje, No 10 George Ford, hooker Jamie George, Steward, Roebuck, prop Fin Baxter and flanker Sam Underhill are the seven changes made by Borthwick from Fiji.
Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Lawrence continue as the centre pairing.
The experienced Ford is back at playmaker instead of Fin Smith who drops out of the 23-man matchday squad altogether.
England will be without Tommy Freeman for the game due to a hamstring injury
England’s bench is packed with power and is made up of six forwards and two backs once again.
Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock were all Lions in Australia in the summer and are primed to cause havoc as replacements. So too is the brutish Chandler Cunningham-South.
Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith are the two back-line presences in reserve.
