Winger Rokoduguni prepares for centre stage
England are set to hand Semesa Rokoduguni his debut in Saturday’s meeting with New Zealand after including the Bath wing in the matchday squad.
Rokoduguni, a serving soldier in the British Army who has seen action in Afghanistan with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, is rewarded for an impressive opening to the season at the Recreation Ground.
The 27-year-old will start outside a previously untried centre pairing of Kyle Eastmond – the Premiership’s form player –and Brad Barritt.
Eastmond experienced mixed fortunes during the summer tour to New Zealand, excelling in the first Test only to be replaced at half-time of the third when his defensive frailties were exposed.
With Manu Tuilagi ruled out for the entire autumn with a groin injury and Luther Burrell missing because of a hand problem, Eastmond has been given the chance to redeem himself.
The selection of 18-cap Barritt, a player England view as among the best defenders in the Premiership, offers a safety net at outside centre.
Filling the left wing slot will be Gloucester’s Jonny May with Anthony Watson, another uncapped three-quarter from Bath, offering back three cover from the bench.
Watson is preferred to Alex Goode in what is his first appearance in England’s matchday 23.
Danny Care and Owen Farrell will form the half-backs, while Wasps captain James Haskell misses out on a place in the back row with the established trio of Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw and Billy Vunipola on course to start.
Uncapped Saracens lock George Kruis features among the 23, profiting from injuries to Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling and Ed Slater.
Props David Wilson and Joe Marler have recovered from respective calf and thigh injuries and are included among the 23.
England squad to face New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday – Forwards: D Attwood (Bath), K Brookes (Newcastle), D Hartley (Northampton), G Kruis (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Wasps), D Wilson (Bath), B Morgan (Gloucester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens), R Webber (Bath), T Wood (Northampton). Backs: B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), K Eastmond (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), J May (Gloucester), S Rokoduguni (Bath), A Watson (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester).