England v NZ: Stuart Lancaster waits on Owen Farrell replacement

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England fly-half Stephen Myler offloads under pressure against the CrusadersImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Myler replaced Cipriani against the Crusaders

England coach Stuart Lancaster has not yet decided who will replace injured fly-half Owen Farrell in Saturday's final Test against New Zealand.

Danny Cipriani impressed as England's second string beat the Crusaders 38-7, before being replaced by Stephen Myler.

Freddie Burns started the first Test at 10 and was on the bench for the second.

"I don't make quick decisions, particularly on a game as important as Saturday," Lancaster, who will announce his team on Thursday, told BBC Sport.

"We'll wait and see. I'm going to think about it overnight."

Lancaster said half-backs Cipriani and Lee Dickson had "started well" and that he was pleased Cipriani and Myler had both got playing time on Tuesday.

Burns sat out the match, as did scrum-half Ben Youngs, with incumbent number nine Danny Care rated 50-50 "at best" to be fit for the Test in Hamilton.

New Zealand will take a winning 2-0 lead into the game after a three-try blitz saw them beat the tourists 28-27 on Saturday.

Tuesday's match gave Lancaster the chance to see some of his lesser-known players in action in an England shirt.

"I've learned we've got a good depth of player in this England squad," he said after his side ran in six tries in Christchurch.

"I thought [open-side flanker] Matt Kvesic was excellent up front - it was definitely the best game I've seen him play this season.

"He was outstanding at the breakdown and he was all over the field, so I'm really delighted with his performance.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

England wing Anthony Watson is going to be a "fantastic international player", says Lancaster

"In the backs I thought the half-backs, Danny Cipriani and Lee Dickson, started well and [inside centre] Brad Barritt was excellent as ever, while obviously [winger] Ben Foden took his try well.

"But it's hard to single players out because, while we didn't have it all our own way, to score six tries and win 38-7 against a really good Crusaders side - I'd have taken that at the start of the day."

England's fifth try came from 20-year-old Bath wing Anthony Watson, who is still eligible for the England Under-20 side that face South Africa in the final of the IRB Junior World Championship, external in Auckland on Friday.

"He's a talent isn't he? I saw him get the ball and you look at him one on one with the full-back and think 'wow, who's going to stop him now'," said Lancaster.

"We're nurturing him in the right way. He's going to be a fantastic international player."

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