Jamie George has taken over the captaincy of the England rugby team from his Saracens teammate Owen Farrell following the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The upcoming match in the Autumn Nations Series will see England face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday, November 2, with kickoff scheduled for 15:10 GMT. Fans can catch live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and follow updates on the BBC Sport website and app.
As England prepares for this rematch, George has emphasized that his forwards must not allow New Zealand to dominate in set pieces as they did during their previous encounters. England experienced a disappointing series defeat to the All Blacks in July, where they struggled in crucial areas of play. George expressed his determination to prevent a repeat of those performances, stating, “We were disappointed in the summer; we got scrummed and we don’t like being scrummed. We got mauled and we don’t like being mauled.”
Ellis Genge returns from injury to reclaim his position as loosehead prop for this match, although the rest of England’s front five remains unchanged. Head coach Steve Borthwick has indicated that he is contemplating promoting players from England’s under-20 World Cup-winning squad to strengthen their tighthead options, amidst concerns over Will Stuart’s performance and Dan Cole’s advancing age at 37.
Despite discussions about potential changes, Borthwick is sticking with seasoned players for now. Stuart is set to start after scoring two tries during a previous encounter with New Zealand at Twickenham that ended in a draw. George is looking forward to returning to Twickenham for the first time since their narrow victory over Ireland in March and believes their training form has been promising.
Reflecting on their past performances against New Zealand, he noted that while they did not achieve the desired outcomes during their tour, they gained valuable insights into what is necessary for success against such formidable opponents. George also shared his admiration for the haka, acknowledging that he has always respected it and enjoyed its theatrical aspect since childhood. He appreciates the unique atmosphere it brings to matches and recognizes its cultural significance.
This match against New Zealand promises to be an exciting challenge for England as they aim to assert themselves after earlier setbacks.
Henry Slade, who missed out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup selection, is now a crucial component of head coach Steve Borthwick’s strategy as England prepares to face New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series.
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