By RugbyFan
October 24 2019

Well it isa long tome since England made a Semi Final of the Rugby World Cup  BUT they are there and face the 'All Blacks' no less.   Good Luck England

George Ford is back in the starting line-up after coming off the bench in the last-eight win over Australia last week. slade dropped to the bench.   Billy Vunipola wins his 50th cap in the back row as Jones keeps faith with his young flankers in Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, but utility back Jack Nowell has lost his fitness battle after a hamstring injury and once again misses out on a place in the match-day 23.

Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes stay together in the second row, with George Kruis among the replacements with back row Mark Wilson - in for Lewis Ludlam - and centre Jonathan Joseph.

Jones said: "Games against New Zealand are always won in the last 20 minutes, because it's always about being alive, it's always about work-rate.    "They're a team that is always in the game, so you've just got to be so disciplined in the way you play the game.   "The breakdown will be a paramount part of the game. They'll go hard in that area, so we have to be equipped to handle that. We have to be good in those transition areas." 

England: Daly; Watson, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), May; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Lawes, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.    

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Marler, Cole, Kruis, Wilson, Heinz, Slade, Joseph.

New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge; Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read (capt).   

Replacements: Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett.