AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS: ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND



  • Venue: Twickenham

  • Date: Saturday, 16 November

  • Kick-off: 14:30 GMT


Coverage: Highlights on BBC Three 19:00 GMT



England have two wins in two games from this autumn series but it is a measure of the ambition within the group that there is still dissatisfaction with the level of performance.


Those concerns are perhaps heightened by the prospect of world champions New Zealand providing the opposition for the final Test.


There has been unease at the lack of a consistent 80-minute display, with England seemingly adhering to the old cliche - 'a game of two halves'.



Analysis


Image of Jeremy Guscott Jeremy Guscott Rugby union analyst, BBC Sport


I really enjoy watching the All Blacks because they combine skill, fitness and technical abilities with intelligence and a real understanding of how to play the game.




What has been reassuring is that England have learned lessons and rectified mistakes, notably in the case of centre Billy Twelvetrees, who used the personal disappointment of the Australia game as an inspiration for a try-marked improvement against Argentina.


Both of England's previous opponents were bossed by the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship this summer but Stuart Lancaster's side ended New Zealand's 20-match unbeaten record last year with a famous 38-21 victory at Twickenham.


New Zealand's response has been to win the subsequent 12 games in all competitions - retaining the southern hemisphere championship title along the way - and are bidding to end the year unbeaten for the first time since 1997, and with a 100% record for the first time since 1989.


France showed there are gaps to be exploited in the Kiwis backline with an attacking display in Paris last weekend but the fact is they still lost 26-19, with fly-half Dan Carter kicking 14 points and teeing up a century of appearances for his country at Twickenham.


England will need more than an impressive 40-minute spell to spoil Carter's party.


Head-to-head



  • England inflicted New Zealand's last defeat, winning 38-21 at Twickenham in December 2012 - their first win against the All Blacks in 10 attempts.

  • That is the highest number of points that England have ever recorded against New Zealand.

  • The All Blacks have beaten England in 27 of their 35 meetings, losing seven.

  • The last time England won back-to-back Tests against the Kiwis was in November 2002 and June 2003.


England



  • England have lost one game in 2013 - 30-3 against Wales at Cardiff in the Six Nations.

  • Victory against Argentina extended England's unbeaten record at Twickenham to six games - the longest since before their 2003 World Cup victory.

  • Owen Farrell is 16 points away from overhauling Simon Hodgkinson's tally of 203 points for England in the all-time Test points scorers list. He is currently the 10th English all-time top points scorer.

  • Chris Ashton is two tries away from his 20th score for England - he currently averages a try every other game despite a run of five without scoring before the Argentina win.


New Zealand



  • New Zealand have won all 12 of their Tests during 2013.

  • The All Blacks have scored 400 points in those matches, with an average of 33.3 points per game.

  • Fly-half Dan Carter will make his 100th appearance if selected (94 starts, five substitute) - 10 of the previous 99 have been against England (nine wins, one defeat).

  • Carter is also the leading points scorer in Test rugby history with 1,435 points.

  • Six of the current squad are listed within the Kiwis top 10 all-time appearance makers - Richie McCaw (122), Kevan Meleamu (109), Tony Woodcock (106), Carter (99), Ma'a Nonu (86) and Andrew Hore (82).

  • Hore is set to retire after the 2013 season, and if England is his last appearance it would mean he both began and ended his Test career at Twickenham. (Debut v England in November 2002)


England coach Stuart Lancaster brings Leicester Tigers' tight-head Dan Cole back into the side with David Wilson dropping to the bench - the only change to the opening XV.


On the replacements bench, Alex Corbisiero is ruled out so Matt Mullan comes in for his only his second cap.


New Zealand have just one alteration to their account, with winger Julian Savea replacing Cory Jane. Savea goes to the right flank with Charles Piutau moved to the left.


Fly-half Dan Carter wins his 100th cap.


England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.


Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 David Wilson, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Toby Flood, 23 Alex Goode.


New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 Ben Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.


Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Steven Luatua, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Ryan Crotty.


Referee : Craig Joubert (South Africa)


Touch judges : Nigel Owens (Wales) & Francisco Pastrana (Uruguay)


TV : Gareth Simmonds (Wales)