Joe Cokanasiga has been ruled out of England’s autumn Test against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday because of an ankle problem.
Eddie Jones’ men take on the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday 19 November (5.30pm KO) for the first time since 2019.
Reacting to the squad, one fan wrote: “So we are still going to see one of the best locks in the world at 6 and no elite pace in the backs. Bore off.”
“Typical EJ pick the same squad week in, week out, gives very few the opportunity to prove themselves! This is the kinda squad picking that won’t win us the world cup!,” wrote a second.
A third commented: “What’s Radwan and murley got to do ? We’ll get torn to shreds by the All blacks.”
World Rugby have confirmed in a statement that the referee for England’s clash with New Zealand has been changed.
A statement read: “World Rugby has confirmed changes to the match official appointments for England vs New Zealand and Romania vs Samoa on November 19 and France vs Japan on November 29.
“Mathieu Raynal (France) will now referee the England vs New Zealand match at Twickenham in the Autumn Nations Series on November 19.
” Raynal replaces Nic Berry (Australia), who has returned home for personal reasons.
“Two further amendments come as a result of this change. Christophe Ridley (England) will replace Raynal as referee for the Romania vs Samoa match in Bucharest on November 19, while Chris Busby (Ireland) replaces Ridley as assistant referee for the France vs Japan match in Toulouse in the Autumn Nations Series on November 20.
“There has also been a change of referee for the Bristol Bears vs South Africa A match in Bristol on November 17. Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) will now take charge of the match instead of Adam Jones (Wales).”
Mathieu Raynal facts:
- Raynal was born in 1981 in Perpignan, Southern France. Part of a successful Junior Perpignan team, they went on to win the French Junior Championships in 1998
- That was the extent of Raynal’s playing career before choosing to take up the whistle.
- The referee’s first Test match came during the 2008-10 European Nations Cup Second Division fixture between Malta and Netherlands
- During a Top 14 match between Montpellier and Racing, Mathieu fractured both his tibia and fibula as he was caught between two players
England squad to face the All Blacks
Forwards: Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks), Maro Itoje (Saracens), David Ribbans (Northampton Saints), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Jack Willis (unattached).
Backs: Owen Farrell (Saracens), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)