New Zealand 33 England 22
(Padua June 26)
ENGLAND 1 MAKO VUNIPOLA: A force of nature and nothing much has changed since, except his scrummaging is better. Two Lions tours and 50 England caps. 2 MIKEY HEYWOOD: Dynamic and quick and there are still those at Saints who will tell you he is a better hooker than Dylan Hartley. 3 HENRY THOMAS: Big athletic prop, made an immediate impact with Sale and then Bath before injury began to bite. Could yet add to his seven caps.
4 JOE LAUNCHBURY: Solid presence at lock, Launchbury had just joined Wasps after Quins strangely let him go. 53 England caps and counting. 5 CHARLIE MATTHEWS: Rangy athletic lock alongside the solid Launchbury, promised big things at Quins before stalling. Now re-joins Launchbury at Wasps. 6 SAM JONES: Gifted and versatile Wasps back rower who was promising great things before his career-ending injury learning judo at an England camp. 7 MATT KVESIC: For some reason people think he’s older! Fitted in well into this side but England senior coaches not convinced. Now with Exeter. 3 England caps. 8 ALEX GRAY (CAPT): Big things expected from the athletic No.8 but has turned to American Football and signed a Reserve Contract with Atlanta Falcons.
9 between CHRIS him COOK: and Tight Dan Robson. call Still going strong at Bath but has encountered some injuries on the way. 10 GEORGE FORD: Smooth midfield link with his old schoolboy mate and England U18 colleague Owen Farrell. Now has 47 caps. 11 CHRISTIAN WADE: A threat all tournament and still the most dangerous back in England although various national coaches think otherwise. One cap.
12 OWEN FARRELL: At inside centre, just like he tends to be with England and the Lions. Stand out then and now. 60 England caps, two Lions tours. 13 ELLIOT DALY: Brilliant versatile back probably playing his best position. Toured with 2017 Lions and winner of 20 England caps. 14 ANDY SHORT: Quick powerful wing with Worcester and Bristol who was forced to retire aged 26 with a hip problem. Training as a surveyor. 15 BEN RANSOM: Pacey utility back who made 44 appearances for Saracens before joining Bedford Blues and then London Irish. BENCH: Rob Buchanan: Powerful hooker who is still doing his stuff for Quins Will Collier: Strong scrummager. 2 caps in Argentina last summer. No stranger to injury. Sam Twoomey: Yet another Quins forward and another to suffer injuries. Matt Everard: Spells with Tigers and Wasps before joining Nottingham. Now retired and coaching. Dan Robson: Made his mark at Gloucester and now at Wasps, excelling in tandem with Danny Cipriani at half-back. Ryan Mills: Rock solid centre first with Gloucester and now with Worcester. Marland Yarde: Developed quickly, try scorer with London Irish, Quins and Sale. 13 England caps. NEW ZEALAND 1 SLOMINA SAKALIA: Hasn’t made a huge impact at senior level, plays for the Bay of Plenty in the ITM Cup and spent one season in the Chiefs Super Rugby squad. 2 CODIE TAYLOR: Dynamic hooker for the Crusaders and Maori. Currently the All Blacks first choice at No2 with 26 senior caps. 3 BEN TAMEIFUNA: Giant 23 stone former Chiefs prop who now plays for Racing in France. Opted for Tonga and has made three Test match appearances. 4 STEVEN LATUA: Former Samoa U20 cap was poached by New Zealand U20 for this tournament. Won 16 caps in back
row, now playing for Bristol.
5 BRODIE RETALLICK: Looked a man among boys at this level and quickly developed into the world’s top lock. World Cup winner in 2015 and 68 caps already.
6 BRAD SHIELDS: Rangy back row man, has become the Hurricanes captain and recently opted for England courtesy of his two English parents.
7 SAM CANE: Lived in the shadow of Richie McCaw for a while but now an AB regular at openside and tipped as a future captain. 8 LUKE WHITELOCK (CAPT): Also played in the New Zealand team that won the 2010 tournament. Recently broken into the All Blacks team. 9 TJ PERENARA: Livewire Wellington and Hurricanes scrum-half who has managed to win 43 caps despite the presence of Aaron Smith. 10 GARETH ANCOMBE: Son of Welsh parents who played for the Blues and Chiefs before opting for Wales and joining Cardiff. 17 Wales caps to date. 11 CHARLES PIUTAU: Won 16 senior caps. Former Tonga U20 wing who has ripped it up for the Blues, Wasps and Ulster. Joining Bristol and hopes to requalify for Tonga. 12 LIMA SOPOAGA: Exciting Wellington and Highlanders flyhalf, 16 caps but with Barrett in residence has decided to move to Wasps next season. 13 FRANCIS SAILI: Played for Auckland and the Blues and won two caps but moved to Europe where he played two seasons with Munster before joining Harlequins. 14 MITCHELL SCOTT: Son of former All Black tourist Stephen Scott. Never quite batted on. Played for Tasman and Otago and 3 Super Rugby caps for Western Force. 15 BEAUDEN BARRETT: Incredibly gifted Hurricanes star who has moved to No.10 where he has already won 63 caps. Worthy successor to Dan Carter. BENCH Sefo Setefano: Made the Chiefs development squad but has disappeared from bigtime rugby. Michael Kainga: Hurricanes prop who has also played for New Zealand Maori. Dominic Bird: Tall Crusaders and Chiefs lock who has won two caps so far. Carl Axtens: Graduated to the Chiefs Super Rugby squad before joining Toulouse. Brad Webber: Back up to TJ at the tournament, chiefs scrumhalf in Super Rugby. Rhys Llewellyn: Bridgend born and bred, capped by New Zealand U20 when his family moved to New Zealand. Waisake Naholo: Brilliant, if injury prone, Fijian wing who plays for the Highlanders. 9 caps. Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)