2. SCRUM HALF: ALEX MITCHELL & BEN SPENCER v FINLAY CHRISTIE & CORTEZ RATIMA
The one change for the All Blacks, sees scrum half TJ Perenara out of the squad after he sustained a knee injury. He has been replaced by Blues halfback Finlay Christie, with Chiefs nine Cortez Ratima named amongst the replacements in hope of making his debut. Christie is set to go up against Northampton Saints scrum half Alex Mitchell, with Ben Spencer on the bench to make an impact.
The Bath scrum half did not have the desired affect off the bench in Dunedin, as Spencer’s attacking pace was a step away from Mitchell’s mark and had a noticeable influence upon England’s pace of attack. There has been plenty of discussion from a halfback pospective ahead of the match, as Christie spoke in the mid week media, ready to take the lead in the nine jersey with the impressive Ratima waiting in the wings.
“Yeah, we’ve (Christie and Ratima) worked really closely, I got on really well with him as soon as he come in. I didn’t really know him too well before this all blacks team assembled, but yeah, he’s a really good nine he’s had a great season. He’s got a great work ethic and he’s just looking to learn as much as he can.”
“We all sort of bounced off each other, it doesn’t really feel like that at all. We’re all just here to get better. And I’m learning just as much of them as they might be me. So, yeah, we’ve been getting on really well. And it’s obviously great still having TJ (Perenara) around with all his experience. So yeah, it’s been really good”
3. FULLBACK: FREDDIE STEWARD vs STEPHEN PEROFETA & BEAUDEN BARRETT
There was a late change to the England squad yesterday, with George Furbank ruled out of the second Test with the All Blacks due to a back injury. Furbank was amongst England’s top ball carriers in the Dunedin match up, yet he was heavily hit by a sequence of Sevu Reece tackles. Leicester Tigers fullback Freddie Steward has been brought in to replace Furbank, and All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is hoping to see the fullback have a ‘quiet night’.
“Yeah, George Furbank, he certainly challenged our line from your (England’s) counter attack. So I think Freddie would certainly do the same, he’s potentially a little bit safer, potentially under the high ball. So that’s a big strength of his game. So it’s about us trying to win those contests and hopefully he has a quiet night.”
Also, New Zealand assistant coach Scott Hansen has cast his eye upon the England call-up, with the former Crusaders coach getting impressed from what he has previously seen from the fullback. “Freddie Steward at the back, we understand his strengths. He’s very, very strong in the air, a big composed boy. They will adjust and be able to adjust some things, we possibly expect them to go in the air more. But they’re all things we’ve acknowledged during the week.
“England are going to focus on what they do well and their DNA, and Freddie Steward is a class fullback. Possibly (miss George Furbank) but again, there’s an opportunity for someone else to step up there. What we need to do is defend.”
All Blacks fullback Stephen Perofeta is set for a return to his home stadium, as the Blues man is set to experience a full-house at Eden Park. Perofeta spoke about how it has been an honour to be selected for the Eden Park Test, with Beauden Barrett once again named amongst the replacements to cover Perofeta and Damian McKenzie.
“Again, I’d be honoured and excited for the challenge and knowing it’s at what I call my second home. And the fans in Auckland, they are real passionate and seeing them fill up Eden Park will be pretty special.”