Match News and Current Form
Not since they won 18 Tests in a row following the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC) have England found themselves in such strong form. Last Saturday’s 38-18 win over Fiji at Twickenham, following the 25-7 victory against Australia seven days earlier, means Steve Borthwick’s side have won all nine of their fixtures since a 27-22 defeat versus Ireland in the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations Championship.
Borthwick has made seven changes to his starting XV from last weekend with George Ford at fly-half, Freddie Steward at full-back and captain Maro Itoje in the second row all returning. England also have a very strong bench, dubbed as the ‘Pom squad’ in reference to the South African ‘bomb squad’, with six of this summer’s British and Irish Lions squad making up the eight replacements.
With the host’s quality in reserve, New Zealand have opted for a similar approach and will have back row Wallace Sititi, Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown on their bench from the start. Captain Scott Barrett, who missed Saturday’s hard-fought win in Scotland, comes back into the second row with the physical and direct Simon Parker returning in the back row.
The All Blacks led 17-0 at half-time at Murrayfield last weekend but saw Scotland, who have never beaten New Zealand, fight back to level the scores before the visitors found eight further points from the 74th minute onwards to secure a 25-17 victory. They can expect another stern test in West London as well, as coach Scott Robertson targets an 11th win from his side’s last 13 games (L2).
Head-to-Head History
England last beat New Zealand in the 2019 RWC, their only victory in the last 11 H2Hs, and have lost the last three meetings although there has been no more than a seven-point margin between the sides in any of the last four!
Hot Stats and Streaks
England have scored 25+ points in five of their last six home matches.
England have scored 3+ second-half tries in each of their last three home games.
New Zealand have scored between 23-29 points in eight of their last nine away fixtures.
New Zealand’s last five victories have been by a points margin of 7-14.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso got a try in each of England’s three H2Hs with New Zealand in 2024 and also crossed the line in the first half against Fiji last Saturday. Will Jordan scored the All Blacks' second try at Murrayfield last weekend and also got a try before half-time in the last H2H at Twickenham.
Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum both miss out for England through injury while New Zealand will be without wing Caleb Clarke who sustained a head injury in Edinburgh.
Betting Analysis
New Zealand score a consistent number of points in away games and we suggest the All Blacks to score at least 25 points in this match.
