England name new faces for All Blacks - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

England name new faces for All Blacks

By Chris Barclay 10/06/2008 05:20:20 PM Comments (0)

England will field three debutants for the first leg of their two-match rugby series against New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday night.

London Irish wing Topsy Ojo is the only new face in the starting line-up while halfback Danny Care (Harlequins) and Australian-born hooker David Paice (London Irish) are likely to earn their first caps off the bench.

Mirroring the new-look All Blacks side, the World Cup runners-up bear little resemblance to the side that started the final against South Africa last October.

Hulking loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan is the only player to survive from the starting line-up that lost in Paris.

England's caretaker manager Rob Andrew said the side were shaped not only by the desire to beat the All Blacks for the first time in five years, but also by a need to groom players for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

"We've got a group of players that need to start on that journey," Andrew said.

"The majority of the players here will be around in three years' time. A lot of selections for the trip were made on that basis."

Andrew is keen that the next generation gets its only shot of playing in New Zealand ahead of the next World Cup.

"For some of the guys, this will be the only time they play in New Zealand," said Andrew, acting team manager in the absence of Martin Johnson.

"I never played a Test in New Zealand (for England) in my whole career.

"So there is an element of looking three years down the line, although the guys who run out on Saturday will have only win-at-all-costs thoughts in mind."

Andrew said he wanted the new order to take shape immediately, believing England dwelt on their World Cup victory in 2003 for too long.

"In some ways, that became a millstone round England's necks," he said.

"We couldn't get away from it. And there's no doubt that in last year's World Cup, England were rescued by players left over from the 2003 side.

"That will not happen in 2011."

There was no place for Rotorua-born hooker Dylan Hartley, 22, who missed out to Paice on the bench.

Meanwhile, Luke Narraway has been chosen at No.8 in place of incumbent Nick Easter who returned home at the weekend after he broke his hand playing against the Barbarians a fortnight ago.

England: Mike Brown, Topsy Ojo, Mike Tindall, Olly Barkley, David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Luke Narraway, Tom Rees, James Haskell, Steve Borthwick (capt), Tom Palmer, Matt Stevens, Lee Mears, Andrew Sheridan. Res: David Paice, Tim Payne, Ben Kay, Joe Worsley, Danny Care, Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait.

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