England name team to face the All Blacks

England men’s head coach Steve Borthwick has named his team to play New Zealand at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday 6th July for the first of two Test matches in the Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series (kick-off 8.05am BST live on Sky Sports).  
 
Jamie George will captain an England side which has two changes to the starting XV that defeated Japan 17-52 in Tokyo with Joe Marler and Will Stuart included.
 
The England skipper will once again be supported by four vice-captains: Maro Itoje, Ben Earl, Henry Slade and Marler.
 
In the front row, George is named at hooker alongside Marler at loosehead prop and Stuart at tighthead. At lock, Itoje partners George Martin. The back row sees Sam Underhill at openside flanker, Chandler Cunningham-South on the blindside, and Earl at No.8.
 
In the half-back berths, scrum-half Alex Mitchell is paired with Marcus Smith at 10. The midfield sees Ollie Lawrence named at inside centre with Slade at 13.
 
In the back three, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso starts on the right wing, with Tommy Freeman on the left and George Furbank selected at full-back to round off the starting line-up.  
 
Amongst the replacements, the uncapped duo of Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleightholme are poised to win their first England caps from the bench. Alex Coles and Ben Spencer are also called into the match day 23, alongside Theo Dan, Dan Cole, Tom Curry, and Fin Smith.
 
Cole will win his 114th cap to equal Jason Leonard as England's second most capped men's player.
 
“It doesn’t get more challenging than playing New Zealand at home, but it’s exactly where we want to be,” said Borthwick.  
 
“We want to find out more about ourselves and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.
 
“Test rugby is a game of fine margins, so our mindset is going to be very important on Saturday. We’ll need to be mentally strong, play a tactically smart game and ensure we maintain our discipline.
 
“The Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin is a great venue with a quick surface, and the closed roof should make the atmosphere very special.”
 
NEW ZEALAND v ENGLAND 
Saturday 6th July 2024
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 8.05am (BST)
 
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 63 caps) – vice-captain
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
11. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 9 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 33 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 94 caps) – vice-captain   
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 91 caps) – captain   
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 39 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 82 caps) – vice-captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 5 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 36 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 31 caps) – vice-captain
 
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 13 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, uncapped)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 113 caps)
19. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 51 caps)
21. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
23. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, uncapped)