Ed Slater

England have named a team of fringe players to face the Crusaders on Tuesday, with coach Stuart Lancaster looking to ensure all his touring party receive game-time in New Zealand.

Debutant Ed Slater will captain a starting XV against the seven-time Super Rugby champions which features only one player, flank James Haskell, who has started a Test during the New Zealand tour.

While Lancaster insisted “we are treating this as like an additional Test”, the selection indicates he is aiming to develop depth in his squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup while retaining his first-choice players for the final Test in Hamilton on Saturday.

“We wanted this game to test ourselves against a top Super Rugby side and with a large squad out here we are hoping to create opportunities for everyone to lay down a marker on this tour,” Lancaster said.

“We can see by how they have trained that they can’t wait to pull on an England shirt.”

England will donate signed shirts from the game to a charity supporting the rebuilding of Christchurch following a devastating 2011 earthquake that claimed 185 lives and flattened much of the South Island city.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said the city was “buzzing” to be hosting England, who were due to be based in Christchurch during the 2011 World Cup but had to relocate after the city’s main ground was destroyed in the quake.

“Local rugby fans were gutted when the earthquakes took away our opportunity to host England at the last Rugby World Cup, so it is fantastic to have the chance to host them now,” he said.

“We know the England team particularly wanted to make the effort to play in Christchurch while they were here and we are very grateful for that.”

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Reynold Lee-Lo, 12 Kieron Fonotia, 11 Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 George Whitelock (Captain), 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Joel Everson, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Tim Perry
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Adam Whitelock, 23 Rob Thompson.

England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Ben Foden, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Tom Johnson, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 James Haskell, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Ed Slater (Captain), 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 David Ward, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Richard Wigglesworth, 21 Stephen Myler, 22 Jonny May, 23 Chris Pennell.

Date: Tuesday 17 June
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-Off: 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)