Care injury depletes England further
An already under-strength England suffered a further setback on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand when their most experienced back, Danny Care, was ruled out Friday through injury.
Ben Youngs will now start at scrumhalf at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The Leicester Tigers No.9 replaces Care, who has not recovered sufficiently from a shoulder injury.
Lee Dickson comes on to the replacements bench.
England coach Stuart Lancaster said the 47-Test scrumhalf, Care, failed a fitness test after falling awkwardly and damaging a shoulder at training during the week.
"Danny is getting there, but we won't take any risks and we need every player to be 100 percent," Lancaster said.
"Ben Youngs is one of our most experienced players – he has played against the All Blacks three times and is raring to go. Lee has known all week that he could be featuring so we managed his preparation accordingly."
Youngs said it is a shame for Care.
"I know he has worked hard to be fit for the game," Youngs added.
"But it's a great to be starting against New Zealand at Eden Park and I know with four scrumhalves in the squad there is a massive amount of competition for me to perform for the team and be at the top of my game."
England – revised: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Haskell, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 David Wilson, 1 Rob Webber, Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Chris Pennell
Date: Saturday, June 7
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT; 08.35 UK time)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Jérôme Garcès (France)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
