Crabtree and Hall miss out for England

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS prop Eorl Crabtree is the surprise omission from Steve McNamara's England squad for the Four Nations opener against New Zealand in Wellington.

The tallest player in Super League, who had such a big impact debuting in last season's tournament and was equally productive off the bench against New Zealand Maori last weekend, is left out in favour of club colleague Darrell Griffin.

Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall has failed to shake-off a hamstring injury suffered in training meaning Wigan's Darrell Goulding, 22, makes his international bow on Saturday morning.

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With Jamie Peacock, Danny McGuire and Kevin Sinfield all missing the tour due to injury, it means there are no representatives from Leeds.

James Graham - rested last weekend - returns in the front-row for the man he replaces as captain, the injured Adrian Morley.

As expected, Wigan's Stuart Fielden, who sat out the 18-18 draw against Maori after arriving on tour late late due to the birth of his first child, ends his four-year international exile and starts at prop so Griffin, who made his debut last weekend, drops to the bench where he is joined by Huddersfield team-mate Luke Robinson.

England's team for the Four Nations match against New Zealand at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday is:

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England: G Widdop (Melbourne); D Goulding (Wigan), M Shenton (Castleford), R Atkins (Warrington), T Briscoe (Hull); K Brown (Huddersfield), S Tomkins (Wigan); S Fielden (Wigan), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (South Sydney), S O'Loughlin (Wigan).

Subs (from): L Robinson (Huddersfield), D Griffin (Huddersfield), B Westwood (Warrington), J Tomkins (Wigan).