England’s head coach Eddie Jones leads the captain’s run training session at the International Stadium in Yokohama on October 25, 2019, on the eve of their semi-final bout with New Zealand in the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
Rugby World Cup fixtures: New Zealand vs England – time, prediction, live score, and result
New Zealand are hot favourites to beat England in the semi-final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. But Eddie Jones is a wily old fox.
England’s head coach Eddie Jones leads the captain’s run training session at the International Stadium in Yokohama on October 25, 2019, on the eve of their semi-final bout with New Zealand in the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
England recalled George Ford at fly-half on Thursday for their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand with the Leicester stand-off adamant they were willing to “embrace the pressure” against the world champions.
Ford came off the bench during England’s 40-16 quarter-final win over Australia.
But he is back in the starting XV for Saturday’s match against the reigning world champions in Yokohama.
“I’ve got a different role this week to last week but my job for the team doesn’t change,” Ford said.
“We come up against a team with strengths all over the field. We are going to have to be on our toes, alive in every moment of the game.”
England captain Owen Farrell, who started at fly-half against the Wallabies, moves to inside centre with Manu Tuilagi alongside him in midfield.
New Zealand have made one change to their side to play England in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final, a match coach Steve Hansen said could be one “for the ages”.
Scott Barrett was named at blindside flanker on Thursday to better combat England’s “kamikaze kids”, the sole change to the starting XV that beat Ireland 46-14 in last weekend’s quarter-final.
The flanker played the second half of that match and stood out, Sam Cane having started but replaced at half-time.
Cane moves to the bench in place of Matt Todd, who injured his shoulder against Ireland, while Barrett’s spot among the replacements was taken by lock Patrick Tuipulotu.
Teams
England (15-1)
Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Billy Vunipola, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry; Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, George Kruis, Mark Wilson, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph
New Zealand (15-1)
Beauden Barrett; Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Ardie Savea, Scott Barrett; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Nepo Laulala, Cody Taylor, Joe Moody
Replacements: Dane Coles, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett
England vs New Zealand: Rugby World Cup kick-off time and prediction
Kick off time: Mid morning delights. It all kicks off at 10:00 on Saturday 26 October 2019. All the action is live on SuperSport 1.
For the RWC, we’ll be using a prediction algorithm from a New Zealand anorak.
Prediction: The algorithm tips the All Blacks to come out tops…but it’s tight… just seven points predicted to be the difference.
RWC 2019 live scores and result: England vs New Zealand
Additional reporting by AFP/World Rugby.
