Rugby-England coach Borthwick swaps props for New Zealand series-opener

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - International - Japan v England - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - June 22, 2024 England head coach Steve Borthwick during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Issei Kato

(Reuters) - England coach Steve Borthwick has tweaked his front row for Saturday's series-opener against New Zealand but otherwise kept faith with the starting side that thrashed Eddie Jones's inexperienced Japan in Tokyo last month.

Joe Marler replaces the omitted Bevan Rodd at loosehead prop, with tighthead Will Stuart replacing the demoted Dan Cole in the only changes to the starting 15 for the game at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr stadium.

The uncapped duo of prop Fin Baxter and winger Ollie Sleightholme will hope to make their England debuts from the bench.

Alex Coles and Ben Spencer have also been called in to the shaken-up reserves, with Charlie Ewels ruled out of the New Zealand tour due to suspension and Tom Curry, Harry Randall and Tom Roebuck all dropped from the match-day 23.

"It doesn’t get more challenging than playing New Zealand at home, but it’s exactly where we want to be," Borthwick said in a team release.

"We want to find out more about ourselves and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world."

England team:

15-George Furbank, 14-Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13-Henry Slade, 12-Ollie Lawrence, 11-Tommy Freeman, 10-Marcus Smith, 9-Alex Mitchell, 8-Ben Earl, 7-Sam Underhill, 6. Chandler Cunningham-South, 5-George Martin, 4-Maro Itoje, 3-Will Stuart, 2-Jamie George (capt), 1-Joe Marler

Replacements: 16-Theo Dan, 17-Fin Baxter, 18-Dan Cole, 19- Alex Coles, 20-Tom Curry, 21-Ben Spencer, 22-Fin Smith, 23- Ollie Sleightholme

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)