HALFBACKS
9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
We’ve decided to throw a spanner in the works for the opening New Zealand Test, with our only alteration of the England back-line coming at scrum half. Whilst we could have comfortably selected Alex Mitchell to lead the line after the win in Japan, we’ve given the nod to Ben Spencer, after the Bath halfback had a phenomenal run of form in blue, black and white this past season. Spencer was named in the 2024 Premiership Rugby Team of the Season, and will be eager to roll this momentum on to Test match form.
Spencer and Mitchell met in last month’s Premiership Rugby Final, and despite Spencer coming out on the losing side of the score-line, the halfback could certainly be proud with his most recent outing on the pitch. Spencer was left out of the fixture against Japan, as Bristol Bears man Harry Randall was preferred for the second half in Tokyo. We can see Spencer getting an outside shout for the All Blacks, with Mitchell on the bench for the first Test.
Onto the most talked about position in the whole of English rugby, and we expect Marcus Smith to retain the 10 jersey for the first fixture against New Zealand. This leaves Fin Smith to be waiting in the wings with the 22 shirt, whilst there can simply be no ignoring the Harlequin’s enigmatic performance as England’s linchpin in Tokyo. Smith scored a pitch-scorching try, and contributed two direct assists against Eddie Jones’ men. His miss pass and cross-field kick assists showcased his Test match versatility, as Marcus is tuning up an all-round attack for the All Blacks.
FRONT ROW
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Moving on to the front row now, and we’ve made a selection alteration for Steve Borthwick’s props. We believe that England will opt for experience ahead of the first All Blacks match, with the veteran duo of Joe Marler and Dan Cole getting another rep from the get-go against their old enemy. Marler lifted the tempo upon his 43rd minute introduction in Japan, as Bevan Rodd had a tough day at the office, upon his return from a lengthy injury lay-off.
The Sale Sharks loose-head required some medical attention just before the half-time break against Japan, with Marler introduced promptly after. Marler won two key penalties against Japan, once at the line-out and later at scrum-time. Our selection for hooker needs only a brief explanation, as England captain Jamie George gets set to lead his men on tour against the All Blacks. There is no moving the skipper from the starting XV, with Theo Dan once again waiting on the replacements bench.
Dan Cole is our choice to start at tight-head, in what would be the 113th England cap for the legendary Leicester prop. Experience can often prove invaluable at scrum-time, with Cole possessing all the knowledge of the ‘dark arts’, that can get an upper hand upon the All Blacks props. Cole knows what it takes to secure a rare win against the All Blacks, and will be crucial to England’s early scrum success to calm the early nerves in Dunedin.
We would love to see Fin Baxter get the nod amongst the replacements, so that the Harlequin can make his England debut off the bench against the All Blacks. We have picked Baxter and Will Stuart of Bath to be the back-up props, with Theo Dan once again the understudy to his club and county mentor Jamie George.