Autumn Internationals: England v New Zealand Preview

Date: Saturday, 2 November
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

As England prepares for their autumn international clash against New Zealand, centre Henry Slade is set to play for Exeter this weekend in an effort to prove his fitness. After undergoing shoulder surgery over the summer, the 31-year-old has yet to make an appearance this season. However, Slade will fly back early from England’s training camp in Girona to face Harlequins in the Premiership on Sunday.

England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth confirmed Slade’s return, explaining, “He wanted some rugby, we wanted him to get some rugby, so he’s going to get some rugby.” Slade, capped 65 times, has been a crucial figure for head coach Steve Borthwick, starting all of England’s eight Test matches in 2024. His midfield partnership with Ollie Lawrence looks set to continue against the All Blacks, provided Slade proves his match readiness.

Wigglesworth added that Slade’s performance in training and his outing for Exeter will be closely monitored, with a decision on his availability for the New Zealand game expected early next week.

Meanwhile, Sale fly-half George Ford is nearing full training after a quad injury and remains in contention for the fixture.

Coaching Overhaul and Team Dynamics

England’s coaching staff has seen significant changes recently, with Felix Jones and Aled Walters stepping down, Kevin Sinfield moving to a part-time role, and Joe El-Abd joining to lead the defense. Wigglesworth has also been promoted to senior assistant, embracing his new responsibilities as England seeks to build cohesion and improve under Borthwick’s leadership.

As the team gears up for one of their biggest challenges, Wigglesworth emphasized the importance of adapting and learning through shared experiences: “International sport is not going to be easy. These unplanned things happen, so you adapt and get better… And the reason we want to grow is we want to win rugby games.”

England will be looking to carry momentum into this high-stakes match at Twickenham against a formidable All Blacks side, marking a key moment in their autumn international campaign.