Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman, both part of the British and Irish Lions squad, have not sufficiently recovered from their respective injuries to be included in Steve Borthwick’s England lineup for the upcoming match against the All Blacks at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium this Saturday.
Chessum, a second-row player, suffered a foot injury towards the end of England’s 38-18 victory over Fiji, while Freeman, a winger, sustained a hamstring issue shortly before the final whistle.
As a result, England captain Maro Itoje will now partner with Alex Coles in the second-row. Coles previously started alongside Chessum in the Fiji match, with Itoje beginning on the bench.
Tom Roebuck has taken Freeman’s place on the wing, returning to the squad after missing the Fiji game due to an ankle injury.
Freddie Steward, who was also absent from the Fiji victory due to a hand injury, has been reinstated into the starting XV. Borthwick has largely reverted to the matchday 23 that secured a 37-42 victory over Australia earlier in the month.
England
New Zealand
The only differences from the team that played against the Wallabies are Ollie Lawrence starting at outside centre, a position previously held by Freeman, Coles in the second row, Chandler Cunningham-South taking Coles’ previous spot on the bench, and the versatile Marcus Smith replacing fellow Lion Fin Smith in the ‘Bomb Squad’.
While Borthwick has lost the availability of two Lions players, he welcomes back another, Will Stuart, who was absent from the Fiji game, with Asher Opoku-Fordjour taking his place among the replacements.
“I’m happy with the advancement we are achieving,” said Borthwick.
“There is no doubt that New Zealand is among the elite teams globally, and contesting them presents an exceptional test.”
“The players value the chance to compete at a sold-out Allianz Stadium. The backing we’ve garnered during this series has been remarkable, and we hope for continued enthusiasm on Saturday.”
England XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 39 caps)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 7 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 36 caps)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 103 caps) – vice-captain
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 25 caps)
1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 16 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 104 caps) – vice-captain
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 95 caps) – captain
5. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
6. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 44 caps)
Replacements
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 51 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 73 caps) – vice-captain
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 51 caps)
19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 19 caps)
20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 63 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
22. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 45 caps)
