England team to face New Zealand: Freddie Steward returns

England are setting out to pick up a 10th straight Test victory that would propel them up the World Rugby Rankings ahead of December's pivital 2027 Rugby World Cup draw.

However, this upcoming clash against New Zealand will push England to their very limits, with Scott Robertson's side in solid form of their own following back-to-back triumphs over Ireland and Scotland.

Borthwick is set to name his team later in the week, yet it is as yet unconfirmed as to whether the head coach will return to the traditional Thursday announcment or go early once again by dropping the squad on Tuesday.

Regardless, Borthwick has some big decisions to make ahead of what could be a series defying clash against the formidable All Blacks.

1. ELLIS GENGE (BRISTOL BEARS)

We expect to see two thirds of the England front row retained for the upcoming Test against New Zealand, with Ellis Genge reclaiming the one jersey after taking over as captain against Fiji. The Bristol Bears man stepped up to claim the armband against the Pacific Islanders as Maro Itoje took a seat on the bench, with the loose-head putting in an arduous shift over the gain-line last Saturday at the Allianz.

Luke Cowan-Dickie continued his tremendous form in an England jersey this past weekend, and we anticipate the Sale Sharks man will retain his spot as the starting hooker. Cowan-Dickie ignited the points scoring against Fiji with his try in the fifth minute, before replacement hooker and former England captain Jamie George brought the side home with a scoring contribution of his own from the bench. We expect Borthwick to unleash the same combination against the All Blacks, with the experienced duo set for a tough challenge against the likes of Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei'aho.

We've shuffled the deck for our tight-head pick, with Will Stuart yet to get on the starting XV for the past two England Tests. Stuart was an explosive member of the 'Bomb Squad' replacements group that blew apart Australia in the first match of the series, then sat out the entirity of the latest match against Fiji. We expect Stuart will be unleashed for this upcoming clash with the incoming All Blacks, with plenty of hype around the Bath man following a stellar campaign with the British & Irish Lions.

England’s lock pairing sees a slight tweak ahead of this clash, with Maro Itoje returning to the starting XV and reclaiming the captaincy after being dropped down to the replacements bench for a slightly reduced role against Fiji. Itoje will be crucial at the lineout and around the park, and made good upon his trimmed down minutes last weekend to come up with a 73rd minute score against the Pacific Islanders. Itoje is expected to lead the pack at his very best against the formidable All Blacks.

Alex Coles comes into the side following Ollie Chessum’s foot injury, and with George Martin still on the mend with the England camp following a lengthy injury lay-off. The Northampton Saints man has already had a taste of international action this series, starting against Fiji and making a brief appearance off the bench against Australia. This is set to be a big moment for Coles, as he steps into a starring role alongside Itoje, bringing athleticism and power to England’s engine room.

From the bench, the depleted second row ranks opens the door for Saracens stalwart Nick Isiekwe to make his first England appearance of the Autumn. The lock last played a senior England Test last Autumn, in the one-sided win over Eddie Jones' Japan. Isiekwe has since featured for England A, and could utilise this opportunity as a way to gain traction back up the locking order.

England’s back row has struck an impressive balance of power, pace, and relentlessness, with all three starting men in fine form heading into the clash with New Zealand. Ben Earl once again showcased his brilliance against Fiji, continuing his electric form in an England jersey. The Saracens star has been one of Borthwick’s most consistent performers throughout the series, combining dynamism in attack with tireless defensive work around the breakdown.

Chandler Cunningham-South also caught the eye in that Fiji contest, earning widespread praise from pundits for his fearless carrying and physical presence. The Harlequins powerhouse is expected to retain the number eight jersey for this All Blacks showdown, offering raw power at the base of the scrum. Earl’s versatility will allow him to slot into the back of the pack in the later stages, ensuring England maintain tempo and control as the match wears on.

Sam Underhill completes the trio after a brutal display against Australia, where he left the pitch wearing his battle scars as badges of honour. The Bath flanker’s heart-on-the-sleeve mentality and uncompromising defence will be vital as England prepare to meet the All Blacks’ most physical forwards head-on.

Tom Curry and Henry Pollock are likely to feature from the bench, adding depth and impact. Curry’s world-class defensive instincts remain unmatched, while 20-year-old Pollock continues his inaugural Autumn campaign after scoring against Australia in Round 1. Both men were part of the replacement unit that dismantled the Wallabies in the series opener, and Borthwick could once again look to unleash their energy in the second half at Twickenham.

This will be a new combination for England this Autumn, as Ben Spencer and George Ford are tipped to link up in the pivotal half-back pairing for the first time in this series. Alex Mitchell endured a quieter outing against Fiji, struggling to inject tempo into England’s attack with some glaring errors impacting his rhythm. The game noticeably lifted once Spencer came off the bench, with the Bath scrum-half dictating the pace and controlling proceedings around the ruck.

We expect Borthwick to hand Spencer the starting role this weekend, with Mitchell shifting to the bench to provide impact in the closing stages. At fly-half, selection remains a point of intrigue. George Ford is our pick to start, with the Sale Sharks play-maker having impressed in the series opener against Australia, after steering England through their Summer tour of Argentina and the USA, whilst collecting his 100th Test cap in the process. Ford's tactical kicking, composure under pressure, and sharp game management make him the steady hand England will need against the All Blacks.

Fin Smith had limited minutes against Australia, before taking the linchpin role against Fiji so far this Autumn. However, the Northampton man may miss out on selection this week, particularly if Borthwick continues with his preferred 6–2 forwards-to-backs split on the bench. We anticipate Spencer at nine and Ford at ten, with Mitchell offering cover at scrum-half and Marcus Smith again acting as a versatile bench option, capable of covering both fly-half and fullback.

Borthwick recently noted that Ford could be explored as a potential emergency scrum-half option. Yet the England head coach admitted that such an experimental move is highly unlikely this November, especially so in a high-stakes Test against New Zealand.

There’s plenty of debate surrounding England’s midfield this week, with the potential return of Elliot Daly adding an intriguing twist to Borthwick’s selection puzzle. For much of 2023 and 2024, the centre partnership of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade was all but guaranteed, before Lawrence’s Achilles injury in the 2025 Six Nations brought that combination to a halt.

Lawrence made his long-awaited England return last weekend against Fiji and looked back to his powerful best. The Bath midfielder relished the physical battle, standing tall against the Fijian duo of Kalaveti Ravouvou and the formidable Josua Tuisova. In contrast, Fraser Dingwall endured a tough outing when tasked with defending Tuisova in the 12 channel, further highlighting Lawrence’s impact within the side.

We expect Borthwick to shift Lawrence into the inside centre role for this clash with New Zealand, with Daly returning at 13, provided the Saracens man is declared match-fit, as reports speculate that Daly is ready to return after breaking his arm upon the British & Irish Lions tour. Daly’s versatility, vision, and ability from the boot makes him a natural inclusion, and his combination with Lawrence could bring the ideal mix of power and creativity to unlock the All Blacks’ defensive line.

There remains a question mark over Tommy Freeman’s fitness, after he featured at centre against Australia before being moved to the wing for the Fiji match. His potential absence could further cement Daly’s return to the midfield, ensuring England field an experienced and balanced pairing for one of the toughest tests of the series.

triking the right balance between pace, power, and aerial dominance will be essential when facing a side as complete as New Zealand. The high ball has become an increasingly decisive battleground in Test rugby, particularly under the latest law adjustments surrounding escort runners. With that in mind, we expect Freddie Steward to return at fullback, reclaiming the 15 jersey ahead of Marcus Smith. The Leicester Tigers man remains England’s most assured option under the high ball and is central to Borthwick’s kick-chase structure.

Steward demonstrated his aerial prowess against Australia earlier in the series and is reportedly back in full training following the hand injury he sustained late in that match. Similarly, Tom Roebuck has shaken off an ankle issue that kept him out of the Fiji fixture. The Sale Sharks flyer impressed in his last England outing, proving dependable under the high ball and clinical in the counterattack — traits that will be vital against the All Blacks’ backfield coverage.

Retaining his spot on the opposite wing is Manny Feyi-Waboso, whose explosive carrying and incisive running lines have made him one of England’s standout performers this Autumn. The Exeter Chiefs speedster offers genuine attacking threat and defensive solidity, providing the perfect complement to Steward’s control and Roebuck’s work rate.

18. JOE HEYES

19. NICK ISIEKWE

20. TOM CURRY

21. HENRY POLLOCK

22. ALEX MITCHELL

23. MARCUS SMITH