England ring the changes for last Test against New Zealand

The Rugby Paper Team

11 years ago

Tags: All Blacks, Chris Ashton, Chris Robshaw, Danny Care, Danny Cipriani, Dylan Hartley, England, Joe Marler, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Brown, New Zealand, Owen Farrell, Stuart Lancaster

Stuart Lancaster has rung the changes ahead of England‘s third and final Test against New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday.
Like in the first Test, Ben Youngs and Freddie Burns will form a new half-back partnership replacing the injured Danny Care and Owen Farrell.
Outside them, Kyle Eastmond will wear the No.12 jersey getting the nod over Billy Twelvetrees while Manu Tuialgi moves back to his familiar position at outside centre making room for Chris Ashton to come in on the right wing.
There are three changes in the pack with Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola taking over from Rob Webber, Joe Launchbury and Ben Morgan at hooker, lock and No.8 respectively.
Danny Cipriani and Lee Dickson’s performances against the Crusaders on Tuesday has earned them a place on the bench.
Lancaster said: “We’ve looked at the performances over the two tests and felt it was a big step for Billy Twelvetrees to come back after being out for so long. He hadn’t played since the May 3. For Luther, too, it was a big step to play at that level.
“So, looking at Kyle and Manu again in the third Test will give us the form they showed in the first test with Luther as an option from the bench and potentially at 12 to go alongside Manu. It is more form than anything else.”
“We want to finish the tour and the season on a high and we have a fantastic opportunity on Saturday. Our aim was to win a Test series and we are disappointed that we haven’t but I am confident the players selected will go all out to achieve the win on Saturday.
“We have progressed as a squad during this tour and while there has been challenges with the end of season scheduling affecting selection it has been a great opportunity to work with a wider group of players and test many of them at the highest level in the build up to the World Cup.”
England: Mike Brown; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Eastmond, Marland Yarde; Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson; Courtney Lawes, Geoff Parling; Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (Capt.), Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Danny Cipriani, Luther Burrell.