England vs New Zealand
2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final
Venue: International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama
Date: Saturday, 26 October, 2019
Kick-off: 9.00am BST
England and New Zealand go head to head for a place in the 2019 World Cup Final this weekend.
Saturday's mammoth clash in Yokohama is the first between these two teams at rugby's global showpiece since 1999, when the All Blacks won 30-16 in a pool-stage encounter.
In fact, it is just the sixth time they have met since 2014, with that awesome, Manu Tuilagi-inspired 38-21 victory for England at Twickenham in 2012 now a fading memory.
Seeking an unprecedented third successive world title, New Zealand topped Pool B and produced a typically devastating performance to punish error-plagued Ireland 46-14 in the quarter-finals last week.
2003 champions England - embarrassed on home soil four years ago - also finished at the summit of their group, but were barely tested due to a combination of overmatched opposition, Typhoon Hagibis and Tomas Lavanini's red card before an emphatic 40-16 defeat of old rivals Australia in Oita.
It was their first knockout victory at the World Cup since 2007.
The build-up to such a high-profile fixture has been as entertaining as you might expect, with the media-savvy Eddie Jones attempting to deflect the attention off his side and pile pressure on the All Blacks.
Team news and line-ups
England
Jones has reversed the key change he made to his starting XV for the win over the Wallabies, with George Ford recalled at fly-half and Owen Farrell shifting back to inside centre as Henry Slade drops to the bench.
George Kruis was expected to be restored to the second row due to his line-out capabilities, but that has not happened as Courtney Lawes keeps his place alongside Maro Itoje.
Jonny May starts once more despite a hamstring injury suffered in Oita, while Billy Vunipola earns his 50th international cap and Mark Wilson is preferred to Lewis Ludlam as a replacement.
Jack Nowell does not make the matchday 23, but New Zealand-born back-up scrum-half Willi Heinz is named among the substitutes despite missing training due to a mystery injury earlier this week.
England XV: Daly; Watson, Tuilagi, Farrell, 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
The All Blacks have also made only one change from the quarter-finals - and it's a surprising one.
Scott Barrett - a line-out specialist who chiefly operates as a lock - gets the nod at blindside flanker as Sam Cane moves to the bench and Ardie Savea shuffles across to No7.
Matt Todd aggravated a shoulder injury against Ireland and his place in the squad is taken by Patrick Tuipulotu.
New Zealand XV: B Barrett; Reece, Goodhue, Lienert-Brown, Bridge; Mo'unga, Smith; Moody, Taylor, Laulala; Retallick, Whitelock; S Barrett, Savea, Read
Replacements: Coles, Tuungafasi, Ta'avao, Tuipulotu, Cane, Perenara, Williams, J Barrett
Score prediction: England 17-30 New Zealand
If New Zealand prove to be as ruthless as they were in the first half against Ireland, then even England's best efforts will not be nearly enough to contain the threat of the world's No1-ranked outfit.
Jones' men need to exploit their slight advantage at the breakdown with the tireless Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, produce a dogged defensive effort, maintain discipline and keep the ball out of the hands of twin playmakers Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett as much as possible.
This iteration of England are surely too good to be thrashed, but the All Blacks tend to operate on a completely different level at the World Cup and it is hard to see a way past them, unless they have a rare off-day.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- England to win: 5/2
- Draw: 22/1
- New Zealand to win: 2/5
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
The match will be televised live on ITV and ITV HD with build-up starting at 7:30am.
TV license payers can also stream the match online via the ITV website and the ITV Hub.
You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog with Will Macpherson in Yokohama.
Head to Head record and history (h2h)
These two sides have met on 41 previous occasions at Test level, with New Zealand boasting 33 wins to England's seven.
There has been only one draw.
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