You are in > manchester.com  > News > Ojo handed first England start against All Blacks

Rugby Union

Ojo handed first England start against All Blacks

10/06/2008

London Irish wing Topsy Ojo is in line to make his England Test debut this weekend against New Zealand in Auckland.

The 22-year-old will line up on the right, with Harlequins wing David Strettle - who is back in contention after injury - on the left.

Strettle's Quins team-mate Mike Brown will start at full-back in what is a much-changed side from the team that took the field for England's final Six Nations fixture against Ireland at Twickenham in March.

Charlie Hodgson gets the nod at fly-half in the absence of injured duo Danny Cipriani and Jonny Wilkinson.

The Sale Sharks stand-off is expected to form a partnership with Bath inside centre Olly Barkley, who was also in contention for the number ten shirt. Gloucester's Mike Tindall starts at outside centre.

Hodgson will have the support of Sale half-back partner Richard Wigglesworth at scrum-half. Newcastle Falcons centres Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon are on the bench alongside inexperienced Harlequins youngster Danny Care.

The pack features Luke Narraway at number eight in only his second start at the base of the scrum, and he will be flanked by Wasps duo James Haskell and Tom Rees.

Bath lock Steve Borthwick captains the team from the second row, alongside another Wasps forward Tom Palmer, behind a front row of Andrew Sheridan, Lee Mears and Matt Stevens.

Uncapped London Irish front row David Paice is on the bench, with Tim Payne, Ben Kay and Joe Worsley the other forwards among the replacements.

Full England team to face New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday June 14th:

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins)
14 Topsy Ojo (London Irish)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester)
12 Olly Barkley (Bath)
11 David Strettle (Harlequins)
10 Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks);
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
2 Lee Mears (Bath)
3 Matt Stevens (Bath)
4 Tom Palmer (London Wasps)
5 Steve Borthwick (Bath, captain)
6 James Haskell (London Wasps)
7 Tom Rees (London Wasps)
8 Luke Narraway (Gloucester)

Replacements

16 David Paice (London Irish)
17 Tim Payne (London Wasps)
18 Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers)
19 Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)
22 Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons)