New Zealand v England: Manu Tuilagi to play on right wing

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England's Manu TuilagiImage source, Getty Images
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England coach Stuart Lancaster has moved Manu Tuilagi to the right wing and wants a backline that has "a balance of pace, power, footballers and people who can distribute as well."

Manu Tuilagi will start on the wing in Saturday's second Test against New Zealand in Dunedin.

Tuilagi moves from outside centre to right wing, with Marland Yarde switching flanks in place of Jonny May.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has made five changes in personnel to the side that started the 20-15 defeat in the first Test.

The All Blacks have made one change, bringing in Julian Savea on the wing with Ben Smith shifting to full-back.

Lancaster had been considering using Tuilagi on the wing for some time, but said he had made the change now because of the number of quality centres available to him.

"I always wanted in the back line a balance of pace, power, footballers and people who can distribute as well," Lancaster told BBC Radio 5 live.

Tuilagi played most of his England age-grade rugby on the wing, and Lancaster first saw him play there for the under-20s. He is confident the Leicester man will excel in what he stresses is not an unfamiliar position.

"We need to find out about these players. I'd rather find out now than 12 months from the World Cup and it's an exciting back line, there's no doubt about it."

Billy Twelvetrees has recovered from injury and partners Luther Burrell in the centres.

Scrum-half Danny Care is back from injury and links up with his Six Nations partner Owen Farrell at half-back. Ben Youngs and Freddie Burns drop to the bench.

In the only change to the forwards, Tom Wood replaces James Haskell at blind-side flanker.

Hooker Rob Webber, lock Geoff Parling and number eight Ben Morgan are all rewarded for their performances in the first Test and retain their starting places, despite the availability of Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola, who are all on the bench.

"It's a 23-man squad, and certainly the bench, and the impact they make from the bench, will be critical in the game," said Lancaster.

Image source, Getty Images
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England have recalled fly-half Owen Farrell (left) and scrum-half Danny Care, who faced each other when Saracems played Harlequins in the Premiership semi-final on 17 May.

"It's an 80-minute game against the All Blacks and to have those calibre of men coming on in the second half I think will lift our performance."

Chris Ashton makes his first appearance in an England matchday squad this year, while there's also a place on the bench for Newcastle's uncapped prop Kieran Brookes.

For the hosts, left-wing Smith moves to full-back in place of Israel Dagg, who drops out with thigh and knee injuries.

Savea comes in for Dagg, while number eight Kieran Read is left out again after the recurrence of the symptoms of the concussion he suffered while playing for Canterbury Crusaders in April.

The All Blacks snatched victory in the first Test when Conrad Smith dived over for a try two minutes from time.

England: Mike Brown, Manu Tuilagi, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Marland Yarde, Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, Geoff Parling, Joe Launchbury, David Wilson, Rob Webber, Joe Marler.

Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, Courtney Lawes, Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, Freddie Burns, Chris Ashton.

New Zealand: Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.

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