Freddie Burns will start at fly-half for England in the third and final Test against New Zealand on Saturday following confirmation that injury has ended Owen Farrell’s season.
Farrell has a strained medial ligament in his left knee and may well be joined on the sidelines in Hamilton by the scrum-half Danny Care. Burns played in the first Test in Auckland before giving way to Farrell for last weekend’s 28-27 loss in Dunedin. Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell trained fully on Tuesday and are available if required but Care, who aggravated a shoulder knock in the second Test, remains an unlikely starter unless he makes a dramatic overnight recovery.
Stuart Lancaster has yet to decide who to select as fly-half cover now that Farrell is out of contention but England’s head coach was heartened by Danny Cipriani’s efforts in Tuesday’s 38-7 victory against the Crusaders. Cipriani and Lee Dickson are now vying for places on the bench behind Burns and Ben Youngs, as ended up being the case in the first Test.
“I was pleased with the contribution of Lee and Danny,” Lancaster said. “They controlled the game well, played quickly and created opportunities when they presented themselves.”
Burns will be challenged to do much the same in Hamilton, possibly alongside Bath’s Kyle Eastmond. “Obviously it’s hugely disappointing for Owen because he wanted to finish the season with the third Test but these things happen,” Lancaster said of the Saracens man, who should be fit for the start of next season. “The challenge for Freddie now is to back up the performance he put in the first Test. He trained well today and I’m confident he’ll be ready.”
Care is struggling to convince his coaches he is ready to feature this weekend. “He didn’t train today and we’ve got tomorrow off so I’ll have a chat with him, the physios and everyone else involved,” Lancaster said. “He needs to be 100% physically and mentally to be available for selection for a Test against the All Blacks, particularly when I’ve got three scrum-halves who are fit and able.”
Lancaster singling out the Gloucester flanker Matt Kvesic for special praise following the win over Crusaders. Wins by English touring teams in New Zealand are rare enough for Tuesday’s result to be savoured by all concerned. “I was looking at the programme and looking at how many times we’ve been beaten,” Lancaster said. “Irrespective of the opposition you know you are going to play a well-organised, competitive team. The challenge was to put down a marker and to take that momentum into Saturday.
“What we didn’t want to do is face the All Blacks having not delivered to our full potential. It was important for us to put in a positive performance and get a good win. To come out with that scoreline makes me delighted for the boys who have waited patiently for their opportunity.”
“When you’re in my position you want to find out as much as you can about your players and whether they can make the transition from club rugby to Test rugby, or play in a different style with different coaches.”
The Crusaders coach, Todd Blackadder, was suitably impressed by England’s strength in depth and reckons they pose a genuine threat to New Zealand, not just this weekend but at next year’s Rugby World Cup. “I think England are a real chance. If they can build on that they’re going to be a real threat.”
