England announce their team for Saturday's match against New Zealand

England have announced their team for the first of two matches against New Zealand this coming Saturday. This is the list:

England: M Brown (Harlequins); T Ojo (London Irish), M Tindall (Gloucester), O Barkley (Bath), D Strettle (Harlequins); C Hodgson (Sale), R Wigglesworth (Sale); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), T Palmer (Wasps), S Borthwick (Bath, captain), J Haskell (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), L Narraway (Gloucester).
Replacements: D Paice (London Irish), T Payne (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle).

Topsy Ojo makes his debut, with further uncapped players David Paice and Danny Care on the bench. The only player who started for England in the World cup Final is Andrew Sheridan.

If I was Kiwi I wouldn't be losing too much sleep over this selection, as I think that there are several defensive frailties that can be exploited - notably Ojo and Charlie Hodgson neither of who tackle that well. I can see it being a long day for England (but I hope that I am wrong).

Weak tackling

Unfortunately I got it right with Charlie Hodgson as his defensive frailties were cruelly exposed. This must call time on his rather unfulfilled international career.

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