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Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tank driver Semesa Rokoduguni, who is from Fiji, is one of the new faces in the England team to face the New Zealand All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday. Rokoduguni, 27, qualifies for the England team as he is a member of the British Army.
George Kruis and Anthony Watson are also expected to make their England debuts on Saturday.
England team to play New Zealand: Semesa Rokoduguni to make international debut
Bath wing will make his first England start against the All Blacks, with George Kruis and Anthony Watson in line to make their debuts from the bench at Twickenham
Samesa Rokoduguni, a serving soldier in the British Army with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, will make his England debut against New Zealand Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By
Gavin Mairs, Rugby Union News Correspondent
06 Nov 2014
137 Comments
Stuart Lancaster, the
England head coach, says Semesa Rokoduguni has earned the right to make his debut in the starting XV to face
New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday on the back of his impressive form for Bath this season.
Rokoduguni, who is from Fiji, qualifies for England as he is a serving member of the British Army. The 27 year-old, who is a lance-corporal in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, will make his international debut just two years after joining Bath.
Rokoduguni is one of seven Bath players named in the 23-man squad and joins club-mate Anthony Watson and Saracens lock George Kruis, who are both named among the replacements, as three uncapped players in the squad
Bath lock Dave Attwood, whose fiancée Bridget gave birth to their first child on Tuesday, starts his first Test for England since the tour to Argentina in June 2013 while Kyle Eastmond also starts at inside centre in a new-look midfield with Saracens’ Brad Barritt, who starts at 13.
In the pack, a back row of Tom Wood, captain Chris Robshaw and No.8 Billy Vunipola makes its seventh start as a combination. Finally, George Kruis will also make his international bow if he enters the fray from the replacements' bench.
“I am delighted for Roko,” Lancaster said. “Wing is an extremely competitive position but he has pushed himself forward with his form this season and it’s great to be able to give him this opportunity.
“The same is true with Anthony Watson and George Kruis. I am sure they will contribute should they come off the bench.
“Dave Attwood has had an eventful week with the birth of his first child and congratulations to him and his fiancée Bridget. He’s back with us now and will be ready to go for Saturday.”
Saturday’s match will be the first for England at Twickenham since they defeated Ireland 13-10 in the Six Nations last season and Lancaster added: “The atmosphere is superb and the fans really give us a boost. We can’t wait for the walk from the coach to the changing room for what will be another great occasion.”
England team to play New Zealand
M Brown (Harlequins); S Rokoduguni (Bath), B Barritt (Saracens), K Eastmond (Bath), J May (Gloucester) ; O Farrell (Saracens) , D Care (Harlequins); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), D Attwood (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: R Webber (Bath), M Mullan (Wasps), K Brookes (Newcastle), G Kruis (Saracens), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Youngs (Leicester), G Ford (Bath), A Watson (Bath).
England team to play New Zealand: Semesa Rokoduguni to make international debut - Telegraph
