All Blacks Name Frightening Team To Take On England
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World champions.
Head coach Steve Hansen has named his All Blacks side to take on England at Twickenham for the first time in four years this weekend.
In the forwards, Karl Tu’inukuafe starts in the number one jersey, replacing the injured Joe Moody, alongside Codie Taylor and Owen Franks. Ofa Tuungafasi and Nepo Laulala, together with hooker Dane Coles, will provide front row support from the bench.
Locks Brodie Retallick and Samuel Whitelock are in the second row, with Liam Squire, Ardie Savea and Captain Kieran Read the loose forward trio. Scott Barrett and Matt Todd are lock and loose forward cover.
In the halfbacks Aaron Smith will partners Beauden Barrett, with the inside paring of TJ Perenara and Richie Mo’unga to bring impact from the bench. Jack Goodhue returns from illness and is named at centre, inside Sonny Bill Williams, while the outside back trio is unchanged from the Tokyo Test against Australia, with Rieko Ioane in the 11 jersey, Ben Smith in 14 and Damian McKenzie at fullback.
All Blacks vs England (caps in brackets)
2. Codie Taylor (39)
3. Owen Franks (104)
4. Samuel Whitelock (106)
5. Brodie Retallick (72)
6. Liam Squire (21)
7. Ardie Savea (32)
8. Kieran Read – captain (115)
9. Aaron Smith (80)
10. Beauden Barrett (70)
11. Rieko Ioane (21)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (50)
13. Jack Goodhue (5)
14. Ben Smith (74)
15. Damian McKenzie (20)
17. Ofa Tuungafasi (23)
18. Nepo Laulala (14)
19. Scott Barrett (26)
20. Matt Todd (15)
21. TJ Perenara (52)
22. Richie Mo’unga (5)
23. Ryan Crotty (42)
