England Rugby said Friday that fullback George Furbank has withdrawn from the side with a back injury on the eve of the second and final Test against New Zealand.
Leicester Tigers fullback Freddie Steward will take Furbank’s place, an England spokesperson added, for the match at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.
England scrum coach Tom Harrison said Furbank woke up feeling unwell Friday morning and the decision was taken to withdraw him.
“It’s massively disappointing for George, he has been brilliant in the way he has been playing and has had a great season,” Harrison told reporters.
“On a bright note, we have a lot of depth in the position, we have a world-class player in Freddie Steward coming in.”
The All Blacks lead the two-Test series after their 16-15 win in the opening match in Dunedin last weekend.
Furbank is the second England player ruled out of the Auckland Test with loose-head prop Joe Marler also sidelined by a foot injury.
His Harlequins teammate Fin Baxter, 22, will start at Eden Park for only his second international appearance.
New Zealand have made just one change to their starting team with scrum-half Finlay Christie replacing TJ Perenara, who suffered a knee injury in the first Test.
The All Blacks last lost at Eden Park in 1994, chalking up 48 wins and two draws in their 30-year unbeaten run at the iconic Auckland stadium.
“We haven’t focused on that,” Harrison said.
“It’s not our record, it’s New Zealand’s to protect. We’re here to compete and play good rugby.”
