New half-back pair for England

R UnionDanny Care and Toby Flood are to form a new England half-back pairing for Saturday's second Test against New Zealand.

England have reacted to their 37-20 loss to the All Blacks by making six changes, five in the backs, for Saturday's second Test in Christchurch.

Harlequins scrum-half Care is handed a first Test start after his debut as a replacement for ineffectual Richard Wigglesworth in Auckland.

Leicester's Flood replaces Charlie Hodgson at number 10, Jamie Noon partners Mike Tindall at centre while Mathew Tait and Tom Varndell come into the back three - where only tryscoring hero Topsy Ojo is retained.

Tim Payne replace Andrew Sheridan at loose-head prop in the only enforced change, but the pack is otherwise unchanged after competing well in all areas - including the loose - against the All Blacks last week.

Olly Barkley and wing David Strettle drop to the bench, where the uncapped Bristol prop Jason Hobson is promoted alongside London Irish scrum-half Peter Richards.

Wigglesworth and Hodgson, and full-back Mike Brown, are omitted from the 22 altogether.


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