Borthwick’s England Set for All Blacks Showdown in a Fixture That Evokes Deep Emotion The arrival of New Zealand at Twickenham is always a momentous occasion, regardless of any changes to stadium names or regulations. For those who primarily follow international rugby, a lot has shifted since England last took to the field in mid-July. Notably, the home team will no longer be playing at Twickenham but will instead take the pitch at the newly named Allianz Stadium. The era of the “Ally Pally” has begun, a change that may or may not resonate with the traditionalists in the more upscale sections of the West Car Park. For many, the Rugby Football Union’s decision to rebrand such a historic venue feels like a loss of a significant part of English rugby’s global identity. This sentiment is further emphasized by the fact that the All Blacks are set to play at another Allianz Stadium just three weeks later, this time facing Italy in Turin. However, for those who cherish tradition, there is a silver lining: it often takes years, if not decades, for new names to become widely accepted. After all, some still refer to the “Manchester Guardian” even 65 years later.

Joe Marler has departed from the England rugby squad ahead of their autumn international match against New Zealand due to personal reasons, as reported by the Guardian. The 34-year-old prop had joined the team at their training base in Bagshot on Sunday but made the decision to leave early in the week, informing head coach Steve Borthwick of his choice. In a related note, Marler had recently stirred controversy by calling for the traditional haka to be "binned" in a social media post, which he later deleted. For those in need of support, various helplines are available: in the UK, Samaritans can be reached at 116 123, and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, Lifeline is available at 13 11 14, while the national family violence counselling service can be contacted at 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255, and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Former Bristol flanker Joe El-Abd has been appointed as England's new defence coach, marking the conclusion of the Rugby Football Union's search for a successor to Felix Jones.

Lilli Ives Campion and Georgia Brock have been selected for England's squad for the upcoming WXV tournament in Canada. However, veteran player Poppy Cleall has not made the cut this time.