New Zealand v England: Prediction, Tips and Odds

After winning in Japan, England continue their summer tour with the first of two Tests against New Zealand on Saturday.

The Red Rose look reborn, with Steve Borthwick doing what his country's football fans are demanding his counterpart Gareth Southgate to do by 'releasing the handbrake' and allowing his stars to play with freedom absent from the Three Lions' ongoing Euros campaign.

If the England football manager is under scrutiny, then his rugby equivalent must be the All Blacks' coach. The new one is Scott Robertson, who has replaced Ian Foster, a man who remained unpopular despite leading the team to the World Cup final.

Razor takes charge for the first time and is already at odds with sections of the media after seemingly favouring players he coached at the Crusaders ahead of those of Super Rugby champions the Blues.

However, he is unlikely to divert from his path and a narrow win at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium could get some of the seven-time Super Rugby-winning coach's doubters onside.

New Zealand v England betting tips and predictions

England +11 - 1/1

New Zealand has been a difficult destination for England, winning only twice in the 'Land of the Long White Cloud' - triumphing in Auckland in 1973 before Sir Clive Woodward's soldiers set themselves up for World Cup glory by winning in Wellington in 2003.

Ireland were the last touring team to face the Kiwis and came away with a series victory. The Red Rose are at a different stage of their development, but have shown signs of real promise under Borthwick.

Saturday's match is the first of two Tests, the second being played next weekend at Eden Park, Auckland and the Cumbrian will be hoping to see his team to emerge with more credit than the last time England visited the Kiwis when they lost the series 3-0 in 2014.

Borthwick was unapologetic about his stodgy style at last year's World Cup, but has made good on his promise to play more expansive rugby and his team were again good fun to watch in June's 52-17 win over Japan.

A fortnight on, England may throw the ball around again in Dunedin, while the ABs might be more pragmatic as Robertson aims to gradually implement his game plan over the next three years.

After a relatively disastrous build-up and start to the World Cup, the Kiwis' run to last year's final was built on solid fundamentals and little will have changed from that perspective.

It could turn into a grind at Forsyth Barr Stadium and New Zealand could sneak the win, although they are unlikely to run away with the result.

Ardie Savea anytime tryscorer - SP

Is there a better player in world rugby than Ardie Savea? France captain Antoine Dupont's ongoing exploits in sevens may give him the edge, but Savea is the reigning world men's player of the year and there were times when he carried his team at last year's World Cup.

After previously standing in for Sam Cane, there was genuine surprise when he was overlooked for the national team's captaincy - Scott Barrett taking the honour - but he seems the type of person who is unlikely to let the snub negatively impact his performances.

Instead, he will use it as motivation and will relish the opportunity to take on an England back-row, who are being talked up as being comparable to any unit on the planet but is yet to produce a complete performance.

The 30-year-old is his country's best ball carrier and scored their only try in the World Cup 2019 semi-final defeat in Yokohama.

That effort saw him pounce on a loose Red Rose line-out and those smarts combined with his physicality make him a candidate to go over again.

Sevu Reece anytime tryscorer - SP

There's been a rumpus over Robertson's decision to snub Hoskins Sotutu, but he has handed a recall to the player who matched the Blues number eight's 12 tries in Super Rugby.

A mercurial talent, Sevu Reece's form comes and goes, but his hot spells are frightening and the boss knows him well from their time together at the Crusaders.

His tally of 15 tries in 23 international appearances is worth noting and he may feel he has a point to prove after missing last year's World Cup with a knee injury.

Mark Telea is expected to start on one wing and Reece looks the likely candidate to occupy the other berth, especially after receiving praise from attack coach Leon MacDonald, with the former All Black utility back last week praising his "intent to get into the game".

He also likes playing at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, dotting down twice in his last two Super Rugby trips to Dunedin.

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New Zealand v England odds

New Zealand - 1/6
Tie - 33/1
England - 4/1

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.