England bolster starting XV as Dan Cole benched for first

England bolster starting XV as Dan Cole benched for first Test in New Zealand

Experienced props Joe Marler and Will Stuart selected in front row Marcus Smith retains fly-half place to face All Blacks in Dunedin

England have thrown down the gauntlet to the All Blacks by naming their team 48 hours early for Saturday’s pivotal first Test in Dunedin. The starting XV shows two changes, with props Joe Marler and Will Stuart both selected in the front row, while Harlequins’ Fin Baxter and Northampton’s Ollie Sleightholme are both in line to win their first caps off the bench.

Baxter and Sleightholme are joined among the replacements by Alex Coles and Ben Spencer, with Bevan Rodd, the suspended Charlie Ewels, Harry Randall and Tom Roebuck all dropping out of the matchday 23. The benched Dan Cole will win his 114th cap to equal Jason Leonard as England’s most capped male forward.