Samipeni Finau in action against France. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
England v All Blacks
Kick-off: 4:10am Sunday 16 November
Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London
Live blog updates on RNZ
The All Blacks have been dealt a blow ahead of this weekend's test against England at Twickenham with two loose forwards heading home.
Samipeni Finau is returning to New Zealand due to illness in his family and Luke Jacobson has already left the UK to recover after suffering a head knock in the All Blacks XV game against England A.
All Black Samipeni Finau on the charge against France in the first rugby test at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. 5 July 2025. Photo: Peter Meecham
Three players have been called up from the All Blacks XV as training cover, loose forward Christian Lio-Willie, lock Josh Beehre and wing Caleb Tangitau.
The All Blacks are seeking to keep alive their hopes of a Grand Slam tour with victory at Twickenham on Sunday morning.
Recent history is on the visitors' side, with the All Blacks having won the last five games against England at the London ground.
The hosts' last victory over New Zealand at Twickenham was in 2012.
The loss of Finau and Jacobson comes as the All Blacks sweat on the fitness of captain Scott Barrett ahead of what shapes as possibly the toughest test of New Zealand's end of year tour.
Barrett is racing to recover from a laceration to his leg that he suffered in the win over Ireland in Chicago earlier this month, which forced him out of the last week's win over Scotland.
He will have to get through a full contact training session to prove his fitness.
England have won their last nine tests in a row (10 games in a row if you include a victory over France A) and will be confident.
The All Blacks are coming off the back of a shaky win over Scotland, in which they almost blew a 17-0 halftime lead.
England have made seven changes the match with Tom Roebuck returning on the wing, George Ford back at first-five and Sam Underhill in the loose forwards.
Roebuck starred in their recent victory over Australia but didn't play in last week's win over Fiji.
The All Blacks team is named on Thursday night (NZT).
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