Jeremy Guscott selects his England XV to face All Blacks, Genge and Curry miss out

In a pre-series selection for The Rugby Paper, England legend Jeremy Guscott named his ideal lineup to face the All Blacks.

Notably, Guscott picked his team prior to the news of Ollie Chessum’s injury, so the list includes the Leicester powerhouse in the second row.

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Forwards: Loosehead Prop: Joe Marler – A seasoned campaigner in England’s front row, Marler brings both resilience and experience to steady the scrum.

Hooker: Jamie George – England’s go-to for set-piece reliability, George adds strength and control at the lineout.

Tighthead Prop: Tim Fasogbon – An up-and-comer with raw power, Fasogbon could make a major impact against New Zealand’s physical pack.

Locks: Maro Itoje & Ollie Chessum – With Itoje’s relentless engine and Chessum’s towering presence, this pair promises aerial dominance and robust defense.

Back Row: Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl – Cunningham-South’s dynamic power, Underhill’s fearless tackling, and Earl’s agility at the breakdown make this a well-rounded

and dangerous back row.

Backs: Scrum-half: Ben Spencer – Experienced and sharp, Spencer’s passing and decision-making could be key to setting the game’s pace.

Fly-half: Marcus Smith – A creative playmaker, Smith’s agility and quick thinking keep defenses on edge.

Centres: Tommy Freeman & Ollie Lawrence – Freeman’s lines and Lawrence’s hard carries give England a potent midfield duo with both strength and speed.

Back Three: Tom Roebuck, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Furbank – Roebuck’s pace, Feyi-Waboso’s explosive runs, and Furbank’s reliable finishing give England real firepower in the backfield.

While fan-favorite fly-halves George Ford, Marcus Smith, and Fin Smith secured their places, a few seasoned veterans and rising stars were unexpectedly left off the list.

Known for his larger-than-life personality and notorious social media presence, Harlequins prop Joe Marler has been a stalwart in England’s front row for over a decade. Marler’s experience

and resilience have made him a fan favorite, but he finds himself off the initial elite contract roster. Many believed his scrummaging expertise would secure him a spot, especially given the

lack of tighthead props in the group. Is Borthwick looking toward the next generation of props? Time will tell.

Leicester’s iconic tighthead Dan Cole, who boasts over 100 caps for England, also misses out. Cole’s scrummaging dominance is well-documented, and he’s a household name in English rugby

circles. His exclusion raises eyebrows, as he’s been a vital presence in England’s set-piece. Perhaps the 36-year-old veteran’s omission signals an intent to groom younger props for the

future.

Bath’s powerhouse back-rower Sam Underhill is another standout name left off the list. Renowned for his bone-crunching tackles and defensive work, Underhill’s omission has been met with

surprise. His impact in England’s 2019 World Cup run was immense, and he’s still at the peak of his game, so his absence could indicate a shifting focus toward bolstering England’s attacking

options.

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