Scott Barrett is set to return to the All Blacks lineup to captain New Zealand against England at Twickenham this weekend. Barrett, who missed the All Blacks’ 25-17 win over Scotland last week due to a cut sustained on his leg during the match against Ireland, has recovered well from his injury and has been declared fit to play.
Despite needing 12 stitches after the injury, Barrett has healed remarkably fast, impressing New Zealand’s head coach Scott Robertson. “We’ve gone for our best team for this game, for this Test,” Robertson stated. “It’s remarkable that he healed so well, once you saw the cut. The Barretts must have some good skin.” Barrett’s older brother, Beauden, will start at fly-half, while their younger brother Jordie remains sidelined in New Zealand with an ankle injury.
In addition to Barrett’s return, New Zealand has made a few changes to their squad. With Caleb Clarke also injured, Robertson has moved Leicester Fainga’anuku into the back three, with Billy Proctor coming in to play at outside-centre. The All Blacks’ forward line has also been adjusted, with Simon Parker joining the back row. Robertson has kept Wallace Sititi on the bench, alongside Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie, all ready to come on and impact the game.
The All Blacks’ coaching staff is particularly focused on countering England’s aerial game. Robertson highlighted the challenge posed by Alex Mitchell’s kicking, calling it a “big part of the game” for England. “England have got a great aerial game,” Robertson said. “Alex Mitchell’s a quality kicker, and he puts it on the spot.”
Both teams are preparing for a highly competitive contest, with the All Blacks looking to sharpen their game after their narrow escape against Scotland. The All Blacks have worked on improving their ability to recover momentum, a key area that was exploited by Scotland in their third-quarter fightback.
Twickenham will be buzzing with anticipation, as the atmosphere at the iconic stadium is always electric. With England’s kicking game and New Zealand’s powerful attack, rugby fans are in for a thrilling encounter. As Robertson said, “When Swing Low starts cranking up you know you’re in a special place, where rugby’s loved.” It promises to be an exciting and intense battle of rugby at its finest.
