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All four team selections for Autumn Nations Series round one

New Zealand's Jordie Barrett reacts after last July's win over England in Auckland (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

It’s finally here, the first of five November weekends featuring Autumn Nations Series action in Europe. The schedule kicks off on Saturday in London with Steve Borthwick’s England hosting the All Blacks just 16 weeks after the New Zealanders closed out a 2-0 series victory with a 24-17 win in Auckland.

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Away from the Joe Marler-ignited debate about the haka, Borthwick fuelled the hype by bringing forward by 48 hours his England team announcement.

It wasn’t until Thursday afternoon, a couple of hours after New Zealand were scheduled to name their XV, when the English head coach was set to confirm his choices. However, he instead did a Warren Gatland by suddenly going public with his selection a couple of days earlier than planned.

Video Spacer

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – the hype is real

Sizzle reel for England and Exeter star, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Video Spacer

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – the hype is real

Sizzle reel for England and Exeter star, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

There are four changes from Auckland. In the backs, the fit-again George Furbank is restored to full-back in place of the excluded Freddie Steward and at scrum-half, Ben Spencer, a sub the last day, is given the No9 shirt in place of the injured Alex Mitchell.

In the pack, Ellis Genge, who missed the summer tour, took over at loosehead from the benched Fin Baxter, while Tom Curry, an Eden Park sub, came in from Sam Underhill at openside. On the bench, Borthwick went with a six/two forwards/backs split in contrast to the five/three tactic used in July.

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Scott Robertson, meanwhile, has named an All Blacks team showing 11 changes from last Saturday’s 64-19 win over Japan in Tokyo. Mark Tele’a is the only player retained in the backline while in the pack, Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi and Sam Cane will continue from last week.

Scotland are also set to take the field versus Fiji in Edinburgh. The Scots were 31-19 winners over Uruguay in Montevideo on July 27 and their XV has nine changes. Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones and van der Merwe are the three retained backs while the three retentions in the pack are Ewan Ashman, Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge.

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Fresh from their second-place finish at the Pacific Nations Cup in September, Fiji have named a starting XV exclusively drawn Fijian Drua, the Super Rugby outfit, as the match falls outside the player release November window. Here are the four teams named for the two Autumn Nations Series round one matches:

SATURDAY
England vs New Zealand (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, 3.10pm)Live on TNT Sports and discovery+

England: 15. George Furbank; 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Ollie Lawrence, 11. Tommy Freeman; 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain), 2. Jamie George (captain), 3. Will Stuart, 4. Maro Itoje (vice-captain), 5. George Martin, 6. Chandler Cunningham-South, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Ben Earl (vice-captain). Reps: 16. Theo Dan, 17. Fin Baxter, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Alex Dombrandt, 22. Harry Randall, 23. George Ford (vice-captain).

New Zealand: 15. Will Jordan; 14. Mark Tele’a, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett (vice-captain), 11. Caleb Clarke; 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Cortez Ratima; 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’I, 6. Wallace Sititi, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Ardie Savea (vice-captain). Reps: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Damian McKenzie.

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Referee: Angus Garnder (Rugby Australia).

Team Form

Last 5 Games

0
Wins
4
5
Streak
1
12
Tries Scored
21
-24
Points Difference
76
2/5
First Try
2/5
3/5
First Points
0/5
2/5
Race To 10 Points
3/5

Scotland vs Fiji (Scottish Gas, Murrayfield, 5.40pm)Live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Scotland: 15. Kyle Rowe; 14. Darcy Graham, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11. Duhan van der Merwe; Adam Hastings, Ali Price; 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Grant Gilchrist, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge (vice-captain), 8. Jack Dempsey. Reps: 16. Dylan Richardson, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. D’Arcy Rae, 19. Max Williamson, 20. Gregor Brown, 21. Jamie Dobie, 22. Tom Jordan, 23. Stafford McDowall.

Fiji: 15. Isaiah Ravula; 14. Vuate Karawalevu, 13. Apisalome Vota, 12. Inia Tabuavou, 11. Ponipate Loganimasi; 10. Caleb Muntz, 9. Frank Lomani; 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 3. Samuela Tawake, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, 6. Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Elia Canakaivata. Reps: 16. Mesulame Dolokoto, 17. Livai Natave, 18. Jone Koroiduadua, 19. Mesake Vocevoce, 20. Vilive Miramira, 21. Simi Kuruvoli, 22. Kemueli Valetini, 23. Waqa Nalaga.

Referee: Craig Evans (Welsh Rugby Union).

Team Form

Last 5 Games

4
Wins
4
1
Streak
2
30
Tries Scored
18
114
Points Difference
22
4/5
First Try
2/5
3/5
First Points
0/5
4/5
Race To 10 Points
1/5

Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 tickets application phase is now open! Apply now.

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H
Hellhound 20 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

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