All Blacks team to play England: Scott Robertson names new midfield for Twickenham test

The All Blacks will field their fifth starting midfield combination of the season for Sunday’s test against England at Twickenham, with Billy Proctor returning to the starting XV.

The 26-year-old will be back at centre alongside Quinn Tupaea, with Leicester Fainga’anuku moving to the left wing in the absence of Caleb Clarke (concussion).

Proctor has been a regular in run-on XV for Scott Robertson’s side this season, starting at centre in seven of the All Blacks’ 11 test so far, lining up alongside Jordie Barrett in the midfield in all of those appearances.

Proctor is one of three players returning to the run-on team, with captain Scott Barrett back in the side at lock after a one-week absence due to a leg injury, while Simon Parker is back at blindside flanker after not being selected for last week’s win over Scotland.

With Barrett returning from injury, Josh Lord moves back to the bench, with Wallace Sititi joining him to make way for Parker’s return. Anton Lienert-Brown will provide cover in the midfield, while Sam Darry and Du’Plessis Kirifi drop out of the match-day squad.

The test is the side’s penultimate outing for the season and one in which they can expect to be thoroughly tested under the high ball.

“Twickenham is one of the iconic venues in world rugby and there is nothing quite like hearing 80,000 fans singing ‘Swing Low’ to get the adrenaline pumping,” All Blacks head coach Robertson said.

“Recent games against England have been incredibly close-fought, and both teams are coming off a run of wins, so we are expecting an epic clash on Saturday afternoon. We will embrace the atmosphere and the occasion.”

England have made seven changes to the side that beat Fiji last weekend, with Maro Itoje, George Ford, Jamie George, Freddie Steward, Tom Roebuck, Fin Baxter and Sam Underhill all returning to the starting XV.

The hosts come in on a nine-test winning streak, with their last loss coming against Ireland in early February during the Six Nations.

All Blacks team to play England

All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan.

Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Damian McKenzie.

Unavailable for selection: Caleb Clarke (concussion), Luke Jacobson (concussion), Samipeni Finau (family illness), Jordie Barrett (high ankle).

England: 1. Fin Baxter, 2. Jamie George, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Maro Itoje (c), 5. Alex Coles, 6. Guy Pepper, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Ben Earl, 9. Alex Mitchell, 10. George Ford, 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 12. Fraser Dingwall, 13. Ollie Lawrence, 14. Tom Roebuck, 15. Freddie Steward.

Bench: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Chandler Cunningham-South, 20. Tom Curry, 21. Henry Pollock, 22. Ben Spencer, 23. Marcus Smith.