Preview: England V New Zealand – Second Test

The head coaches of both sides have approached this game differently with England making nine changes to their starting line-up to New Zealands two,writes Ali Donnelly

While England, with vastly more experience in reserve, were always likely to make a raft of changes as they did 12 months ago for the second test, the result on Friday night meant that Brian Evans has been forced somewhat to resist the urge to do likewise now that his side has got to win to keep the series alive.

Whatever the result, it does mean that England will have a real freshness advantage in the third test, with the ability to recall the likes of Heather Fisher and Kat Merchant, who both had a big say in the first test win.

But Englands changes, despite being wholesale, do not exactly lose them a lot of experience with their starting line-up still boasting more than 380 caps between them. New Zealand, despite naming their strongest line-up, share just 176 caps in theirs, a reflection on the shamefully low opportunities they get to play test rugby.

To the key areas on Tuesday night.

It is telling that the only change Evans has made in the pack is in the front row as New Zealand struggled as the game wore on to deal with Englands dominant scrum. England scored a try directly from a scrum in the second half, and no doubt the scrum machine will have been out in recent days at the Black Ferns base in Teddington.

England are starting with an entirely new front row tomorrow night and New Zealand will hope they can get on top there as their struggles in that department made life difficult for half-backs Emma Jenson and Kendra Cocksedge behind.

New Zealand will be quietly pleased too to see the back of Fisher and Marlie Packer in the England pack as both were prominent on Friday. The Black Ferns began the game strongly on the floor, scrapping and hassling England at every point of contact, but as the game wore on England slowly got the upper hand and New Zealand conceded far too many penalties in the second half.

To that end, for all that England did superbly to come back from a ten-point deficit in the last half an hour, New Zealand can take some satisfaction from being just three points away in the first game, which was always going to be a big ask of them given its their first game together in 12 months.

Their late tiring wasnt entirely unexpected these players are just easing back to the rigours of test rugby - and by naming almost the same line-up for tomorrows game, youd have to think New Zealand will be much improved for the 80 minutes they have just had together.

The Black Ferns will also be pleased with how they contained Englands threat in the middle for most of the game, and in fact until Alice Richardson switched into the number 10 role late, Englands attacking game Merchants two excellent breaks apart was easily coped with by the excellent New Zealand defensive line-speed.

Both sides will want to cut the error count and improve their kicking tomorrow night, but with Englands pack undoubtedly losing quality with the changes they have made, New Zealand have more than a sniff off levelling the series.

There is a point worth making that this time 12 months ago having won the first test, England made a similar number of changes ahead of the second test and were comfortable winners, but for me the scenario this year is different.

New Zealand have had a better build-up to this series via the recent end to their NPC, and they were much more abrasive on Friday night than 12 months ago in the first test. I expect a much stronger showing from them this time around.

It's set to be a cracker.

See England's teamhereand New Zealand's teamhere. England play New Zealand on Tuesday. November 27 at Aldershot Army Rugby Stadium - KO 7:30pm. (Live onwww.rfu.com/englandwomenlive)Tickets are available throughwww.ticketmaster.co.uk, priced at 10 for adults and 5 for Under 16s