Stuart back in England squad after knee injury
BATH Rugby tighthead prop Will Stuart has been named in England’s 36-player squad to prepare for their match against New Zealand this weekend.
Stuart, who was England’s starting tighthead in the 2-1 series win over Australia in the summer with Bristol Bears man Kyle Sinckler recovering from injury, has not played since October 15 when he suffered a knee problem against Saracens while on club duty for Bath.
He is understood to have been completing the final stages of his rehab with England and now comes into the selection mix for the final two games of the Autumn Series.
Exeter Chiefs winger Jack Nowell, who was named in England’s XV to face Japan on Saturday only to be withdrawn with an abdominal wall injury late in the day, remains in the squad, suggesting it is only a minor injury, however Newcastle Falcons wing Adam Radwan is also called up following a stunning solo try in his club side’s 27-21 victory over Gloucester on Saturday.
Saracens star Max Malins, who has been selected by Eddie Jones, above, but released in midweek so far this Autumn, is on the unavailable list.
England will take on the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday for the first time since the 2019 World Cup semi-final. The game promises to be a landmark occasion for captain
Owen Farrell, who is in line to earn his 100th cap this weekend.
■ South Africa ‘A’ head coach Mzwandile Stick has made five changes to his starting team to face the Bristol at Ashton Gate this Thursday following his side’s 28-14 defeat to Munster last week.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Marco van Staden earn starts in a squad that features 12 capped Springboks. Feinberg-Mngomezulu joined squad in Bristol on Sunday after spending the last two weeks with the Boks in Dublin and Toulon respectively, while Van Staden joined after being ruled out of Jacques Nienaber’s original 35-man senior squad due to a rib injury.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaces Johan Goosen at fly-half in a new half-back pairing with scrum-half Grant Williams, while the only other change among the backs is at fullback, where Gianni Lombard takes over from Aphelele Fassi, who suffered an ankle injury at Munster.
The changes in the forward pack are at hooker, where Andre-Hugo Venter is named in place of Joseph Dweba, who is on standby for the Springbok squad, with Van Staden replacing Phepsi Buthelezi at flank.
Stick said: “It was always our intention to give everyone in the squad game time on this tour to assess our player resources and see what the players have to offer at this level. This week we will hand a few different players starting berths as the demands are different on players from the starting team and the bench.
“Bristol are coached by Pat Lam, and with his New Zealand background, he enjoys skillful running rugby, so we are expecting the pace of this game to be faster.”