All Blacks team: Scott Robertson reacts to England’s ‘Pom Squad’ in shock selections but Rieko Ioane is still snubbed

Scott Robertson has moved Leicester Fainga’anuku to the wing and dropped Wallace Sititi to the bench for the All Blacks’ clash with England on Saturday.

Caleb Clarke suffered a concussion in last weekend’s victory over Scotland, which left the head coach with a big decision to make.

Robertson could have shifted Will Jordan over and put Damian McKenzie at full-back or brought back Rieko Ioane, but he has decided to select Fainga’anuku in the 11 jersey.

That means Billy Proctor gets a recall at centre as the Hurricanes star fills that spot and forms a midfield combination with Quinn Tupaea.

The other big decision comes in the back-row with Simon Parker surprisingly back at blindside flanker with Sititi among the replacements.

Perhaps reacting to England’s decision to stack their bench, dubbed the ‘Pom Squad’, the All Blacks have held the 23-year-old back until later in the game.

Alongside Ardie Savea and Peter Lakai, who retain their places in the XV, they were an incredibly effective loose trio against Scotland, but the gargantuan Parker, who is still getting up to speed at Test level, gets the nod this weekend.

All Blacks skipper returns

There is one other change in the pack, and that is the return of captain Scott Barrett, which is a boost ahead of this huge match as New Zealand chase the Grand Slam.

The rest of the XV remains the same as Fabian Holland joins Barrett in the engine room, while the front-row of Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor and Ethan de Groot continue.

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Behind the scrum, Jordan and Leroy Carter combine with Fainga’anuku in the back three and at half-back, Beauden Barrett and Cam Roigard are once again the main decision-making duo.

On the bench, the massive front-row trio of Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams and Pasilio Tosi will look to make another big impact.

Josh Lord drops to the reserves alongside Sititi as the remaining forward cover with Robertson opting for a 5-3 split.

Anton Lienert-Brown comes into the 23 for the first time since August and he joins Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie among the replacements.

“Twickenham is one of the iconic venues in world rugby and there is nothing quite like hearing 80,000 fans singing ‘Swing Low’ to get the adrenaline pumping. Recent games against England have been incredibly close-fought, and both teams are coming off a run of wins, so we are expecting an epic clash on Saturday afternoon. We will embrace the atmosphere and the occasion,” the All Blacks boss said.

All Blacks team to face England

All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie

Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 15:10 GMT (04:10 NZDT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (FFR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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