LIVE on Sky Sport – Sunday 16 November: All Blacks vs England, 4:10AM (NZST). Highlights available on NZR+ and All Blacks YouTube.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (39)
2. Codie Taylor (106) (Vice-Captain)
3. Fletcher Newell (33)
4. Scott Barrett (87) (Captain)
5. Fabian Holland (11)
6. Simon Parker (6)
7. Ardie Savea (105) (Vice-Captain)
8. Peter Lakai (7)
9. Cam Roigard (16)
10. Beauden Barrett (143)
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku (10)
12. Quinn Tupaea (23)
13. Billy Proctor (10)
14. Leroy Carter (5)
15. Will Jordan (52)
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (41)
17. Tamaiti Williams (25)
18. Pasilio Tosi (14)
19. Josh Lord (10)
20. Wallace Sititi (17)
21. Cortez Ratima (20)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (86)
23. Damian McKenzie (72)
Unavailable for selection: Caleb Clarke (concussion), Luke Jacobson (concussion), Samipeni Finau (family illness), Jordie Barrett (high ankle).
The front row remains unchanged from the previous two Northern Tour Tests and will bring formidable power, strength and technique in both the starting and replacement packs.
Captain Scott Barrett returns from injury to resume his role at lock, while loose forward Simon Parker also re-enters the starting fifteen, meaning Josh Lord and Wallace Sititi will add their significant impact to the bench.
In the midfield, Billy Proctor will pull on the No.13 jersey he has worn in seven Tests previously this year, and the experienced Anton Lienert-Brown will provide midfield cover for Proctor and starting second five-eighth Quinn Tupaea. Leicester Fainga'anuku shifts out to the wing after Caleb Clarke was ruled out with concussion.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said his team is ready for the challenge that England will inevitably bring with a big home crowd behind them.
“Twickenham is one of the iconic venues in world rugby and there is nothing quite like hearing 80,000 fans singing ‘Swing Low’ to get the adrenaline pumping. Recent games against England have been incredibly close-fought, and both teams are coming off a run of wins, so we are expecting an epic clash on Saturday afternoon. We will embrace the atmosphere and the occasion.”
MATCH FACTS
- The teams will be playing for the Hillary Shield (named after Sir Edmund Hillary), which the All Blacks have held since 2013.
- The All Blacks have played England 46 times in total, for 36 wins, 2 draws and 8 losses since the 1905 ‘Originals’ beat the home side 15-0 at Crystal Palace in London.
- Five of the last seven games between the All Blacks and England have been decided by 3 points or less.
- This year marks the 100th anniversary since the All Blacks' first Test match at Twickenham – played by the 'Invincibles' on 3 January 1925. The match marked the first time a player had been sent off in a Test - All Black Cyril Brownlie was sent off after eight minutes but the All Blacks won 17-11. Cyril’s brother Maurice was one of the All Blacks try scorers.
- This is the 30th time the All Blacks have played a Test at Twickenham – two of those were not against England (France in the 1999 World Cup, and South Africa in 2023). In total, the All Blacks have won 20 of their 30 Tests at the venue.
