Beauden Barrett will once again start in the top five.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

All Blacks v England

Kick off: 4.10am Sunday 3 November (NZT)

Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London

Live updates on the RNZ Sport blog

Scot Robertson has made changes to his top power team for Sunday morning’s clash with England at Twickenham. One of the main points of discussion is in midfield, where Cortez Ratima got the starting place and Cam Roigard preferred TJ Perenara on the bench. Beauden Barrett starts in the top five again.

Tamaiti Williams has been handed a start at loosehead prop, reward for consistently strong performances since his return from injury sustained in round one of the Super Rugby Pacific. He replaces Ethan de Groot, who surprisingly drops out of the squad after being an automatic starter for the past three seasons. Pasilio Tosi takes one of the bench spots, with Robertson loading up his front-row options with the two heaviest men to ever play for the All Blacks.

Tamaiti Williams during the All Blacks captains run, Eden Park.
Photo: Lynne Cameron/ActionPress

Elsewhere, the only other really controversial spot was on the wing. Mark Tele’a was handed the 14 jersey ahead of Sevu Reece after the virtual audition for the role last weekend against Japan.

He joins Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan in the back three, who will all have a big job on their hands looking after their exciting English opponents.

The rest of the tight five unsurprisingly line up for what will be a crucial scrum-time battle. Tyrel Lomax has been in excellent form this season, but Codie Taylor’s efforts are arguably the best of his career.

Scott Barrett leads the team in blocking, along with Tupou Vaa’i. Vaa’i, 24, is enjoying a breakout season at Test level and will have an intriguing battle against England’s Maro Itoje. The starting free forwards are again no surprise, with Robertson remaining alongside starters Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. However, while Samipeni Finau is coming off a strong performance against Japan, he is literally the last man standing in the free forward reserves. Ethan Blackadder, Dalton Papali’i and Luke Jacobson have been ruled out through injury.

Jordie Barrett returns from the knee injury sustained in the first Bledisloe Cup Test to partner Rieko Ioane in the middle, with Anton Lienert-Brown providing cover on the bench. McKenzie is the other reserve, reprising the role he played in the All Blacks’ last Test.

Elsewhere in the reserves, Asafo Aumua and Ofa Tu’ungafasi step up to the front row. The experience of Patrick Tuipulotu and Anton Lienert-Brown will be a big factor as they enter the second half.

England named their squad on Wednesday, with George Furbank returning to full-back after missing the last Test between the two sides through injury. Ben Spencer takes over at half-back from the injured Alex Mitchell, while the only form-based change is Tom Curry, who starts at openside in a surprise jump ahead of Sam Underhill.

Manager Steve Borthwick left with a six/two split on his bench. Forwards Theo Dan and Dan Cole have retained their places since July, joined by Fin Baxter, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Curry and Alex Dombrandt. Harry Randall and George Ford are the only reserves at the back.

Twickenham is again sold out for the match with a crowd of 82,000.

Team Lists

All Blacks: 1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Tupou Vaa’i 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cortez Ratima 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12 . Jordie Barrett 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele’a 15. Will Jordan

Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Patrick Tuipulotu 20. Samipeni Finau 21. Cam Roigard 22. Anton Lienert-Brown 23. Damian McKenzie

England: 1. Ellis Genge 2. Jamie George (c) 3. Will Stuart 4. Maro Itoje 5. George Martin 6. Chandler Cunningham-South 7. Tom Curry 8. Ben Earl 9. Ben Spencer 10. Marcus Smith 11. Tommy Freeman 12 . Ollie Lawrence 13. Henry Slade 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 15. George Furbank

Bench: 16. Theo Dan 17. Fin Baxter 18. Dan Cole 19. Nick Isiekwe 20. Ben Curry 21. Alex Dombrandt 22. Harry Randall 23. George Ford