England vs New Zealand: Manu Tuilagi left out as Chris Ashton and Sam Underhill start against All Blacks
Manu Tuilagi has been left out of the England squad that will face New Zealand this Saturday, with Eddie Jones making three changes to his starting line-up from last weekend’s victory over the All Blacks.
Tuilagi fails to make the side for the second week running, having been forced to withdraw last week due to a minor groin strain, and although the 27-year-old centre has been back in training this week, Jones has elected to stick with Ben Te’o and Henry Slade in the centre.
However, Chris Ashton does come into the starting line-up for his first start since facing the All Blacks in 2014, with the Sale Sharks wing named at the expense of Jack Nowell in the No 14 shirt. Nowell drops down to the bench, having not done enough to retain his place after his return to the side last week.
England vs South Africa player ratings
1/30 Alec Hepburn – 5 out of 10
2/30 Dylan Hartley – 7 out of 10
3/30 Kyle Sinckler – 6 out of 10
4/30 Maro Itoje – 6 out of 10
5/30 George Kruis – 7 out of 10
6/30 Brad Shields – 7 out of 10
7/30 Tom Curry – 6 out of 10.
8/30 Mark Wilson – 8 out of 10
9/30 Ben Youngs – 6 out of 10
10/30 Owen Farrell – 8 out of 10
11/30 Jonny May – 6 out of 10
12/30 Ben Te’o – 7 out of 10
13/30 Henry Slade – 6 out of 10
14/30 Jack Nowell – 6 out of 10
15/30 Elliot Daly – 5 out of 10
16/30 <b>South Africa:</b> Steven Kitschoff – 7 out of 10
17/30 Malcolm Marx – 4 out of 10
18/30 Frans Malherbe – 6 out of 10
19/30 Eben Etzebeth – 5 out of 10
20/30 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 6 out of 10
21/30 Siya Kolisi – 6 out of 10
22/30 Duane Vermeulen – 6 out of 10
23/30 Warren Whiteley – 6 out of 10
24/30 Ivan van Zyl – 6 out of 10
25/30 Handre Pollard – 7 out of 10
26/30 Aphiwe Dyantyi – 6 out of 10
27/30 Damian de Allende – 6 out of 10
28/30 Jesse Kriel – 6 out of 10
29/30 Sbu Nkosi – 7 out of 10
30/30 Damian Willemse – 6 out of 10
1/30 Alec Hepburn – 5 out of 10
2/30 Dylan Hartley – 7 out of 10
3/30 Kyle Sinckler – 6 out of 10
4/30 Maro Itoje – 6 out of 10
5/30 George Kruis – 7 out of 10
6/30 Brad Shields – 7 out of 10
7/30 Tom Curry – 6 out of 10.
8/30 Mark Wilson – 8 out of 10
9/30 Ben Youngs – 6 out of 10
10/30 Owen Farrell – 8 out of 10
11/30 Jonny May – 6 out of 10
12/30 Ben Te’o – 7 out of 10
13/30 Henry Slade – 6 out of 10
14/30 Jack Nowell – 6 out of 10
15/30 Elliot Daly – 5 out of 10
16/30 <b>South Africa:</b> Steven Kitschoff – 7 out of 10
17/30 Malcolm Marx – 4 out of 10
18/30 Frans Malherbe – 6 out of 10
19/30 Eben Etzebeth – 5 out of 10
20/30 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 6 out of 10
21/30 Siya Kolisi – 6 out of 10
22/30 Duane Vermeulen – 6 out of 10
23/30 Warren Whiteley – 6 out of 10
24/30 Ivan van Zyl – 6 out of 10
25/30 Handre Pollard – 7 out of 10
26/30 Aphiwe Dyantyi – 6 out of 10
27/30 Damian de Allende – 6 out of 10
28/30 Jesse Kriel – 6 out of 10
29/30 Sbu Nkosi – 7 out of 10
30/30 Damian Willemse – 6 out of 10
The other changes come in the pack where Ben Moon is handed his first international start at loosehead prop ahead of Exeter Chiefs teammate Alex Hepburn after making his debut o, while Sam Underhill is named at openside flanker with Tom Curry ruled out of the rest of the Quilter Internationals with injury.
Courtney Lawes has to make do with a place on the bench as he returns from a back injury, but his selection in the match-day squad along with Charlie Ewels means there is no place for Bath No 8 Zach Mercer, despite impressing off the bench last week.
England squad vs New Zealand
Elliot Daly; Chris Ashton, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Ben Moon, DYlan Hartley, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Brad Shields, Sam Underhill, Mark Wilson.
Replacements: Jamie George, Alec Hepburn, Harry Williams, Charlie Ewels, Courtney Lawes, Danny Care, George Ford, Jack Nowell.
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