WELLINGTON, New Zealand — England has recalled props Joe Marler and Will Stuart in the only changes to its starting lineup for the first rugby test against New Zealand at Dunedin on Saturday, according to france 24.
Marler and Stuart replace Bevan Rodd and Dan Cole who played in England’s 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo last weekend.
Cole will have to come off the bench to play his 114th test, which would see him join Jason Leonard as England’s second most-capped men’s player.
Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleighthole are likely to make their test debuts from the bench while Alex Coles replaces the suspended Charlie Ewels, who was sent off in the Japan test. Ben Spencer also joins the reserves in place of Harry Randall.
Stuart has history against the All Blacks, having scored two tries in a 25-25 draw when the teams last met at Twickenham in November, 2022. Seven players remain from the England team which beat New Zealand 19-7 in the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup.
