Andy Robinson has drafted three players into his training squad ahead of England’s clash against the All Blacks at Twickenham next Sunday.
England head coach Robinson yesterday named a starting line-up that includes uncapped Gloucester centre Anthony Allen and his fellow international rookie, Bristol’s scrum-half Shaun Perry.
Robinson though, did not reveal his list of replacements after a build-up to the New Zealand game badly affected by injuries.
Robinson has now moved outside the 30-man squad he announced last week for reinforcements.
Uncapped Bristol number eight Dan Ward-Smith, Castres centre Phil Christophers and Wasps full-back Mark Van Gisbergen have all been added to the players preparing for Sunday’s encounter which will be played in front of a record 82,000 Twickenham crowd.
Ward-Smith has been one of Bristol’s outstanding players during their march to the Guinness Premiership summit this season, while Christophers has been out of the England spotlight since making a couple of appearances during the Sir Clive Woodward reign.
Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, made his solitary England appearance as a temporary replacement last season, but his progress this term was delayed by a broken jaw suffered during the summer.
Robinson’s preparations for the all Blacks have been riddled by fitness issues, with players such as Josh Lewsey, Mathew Tait, Olly Barkley, Steve Borthwick and James Forrester among those ruled out of contention.
England have lost their last five games, stretching back to last February after they beat Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship.
