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Picking your best starting XV for a important rugby game seems more and more old-fashioned today, evoking memories of bygone days like vintage television. So much so that you might almost expect finding this England selection to face the All Blacks on Saturday printed in a reversed sequence. Even with the All Blacks visiting, the conventional method of picking the team no longer applies.

Focus on the Final Stages

Rather, the focus is centered on the game concludes. On this occasion, the coach opted to selected six British & Irish Lions on the bench compared to just a few among the first XV. Around the 50-minute point on Saturday, there will be a mass substitution involving new players joining the field. As the Springboks' famous "impact substitutes" has demonstrated, such a approach can be extremely tough to counter.

Potential Pitfall

However, comes one minor issue. While facing the world's top-tier teams, it's essential to begin strongly as well. Holding out until the arrival of star substitutes like Ellis Genge and others could appear not so smart if New Zealand build a significant advantage by halftime, as they did versus the Scots at Murrayfield.

Yet this is the modern approach for you. Furthermore not many are more expert about the subject compared to the England coach, who spent multiple games as an unused substitute in his playing days.

Past Examples

Among these occasions, he mentioned this week, is the famous match against the All Blacks in Wellington during 2003, where the pack was cut down due to yellow cards. Even then, Borthwick along with fellow reserves stayed on the sidelines throughout the match.

Conversely, during a match in Italy the previous year, Clive Woodward introduced multiple experienced leaders around 56 minutes, strategy memorably referred to like "the most illustrious substitutes since."

Today's Plan

The current England bench selection nearly matches that in terms of "Big Dog" vibes, with England obviously aiming to catch the opposition in the final quarter. "Every game we have played against them has gone toward the end," Borthwick said. "Therefore we need the right players available to finish strongly... having such a degree of experience among substitutes is an important advantage for us."

Spectator Perspective

There will be fans spending premium prices for seats at the stadium wondering whether reduced pricing could be available if games currently largely hinge on only the final stages instead of the entire match. Joking aside, however, exists a further quietly compelling explanation: that Borthwick's trust in younger players such as Fin Baxter has becoming so strong so that the "strongest" first lineup may not be precisely as many fans would think.

Selection Choices

If that makes Borthwick as "an adventurous coach" is not something he's is minded to talk about – "I don't go for tags... I try and pick the best squad possible for the results" – yet the team's ongoing run with nine Test wins consecutively has strengthened the view how Test rugby has become increasingly a 23-man effort.

"In my view every player recognizes that it's a collective endeavor. All the players here helping us get ready each contribute. This type of unselfish attitude hasn't necessarily been the case with past squads. It was not my experience during my time as playing."

Tough Judgments

Some difficult choices are having to be made, however, with the absence of key individuals. The coach additionally says that "spoilt with options" at fly-half, and on this occasion, it is one club's Fin Smith who is omitted entirely. Given wet weather forecast, the selection of George Ford at No 10 is not a major surprise, and the security of New Zealand's defense against kicks will likely to be tested frequently.

Know-How plus Versatility

Additionally, there is the extra importance of experience together with necessity for substitute option who is able to slot into the back three, particularly as another player not yet fully fit. "I could have select either of the available playmakers and explain now saying about how they're the best player because I think they're all excellent," Borthwick commented. "He is a very calm leader but also has the skill to unite everyone together and [put] the team on to the front foot. That's exactly what expecting him to deliver on Saturday."

Closing Thoughts

Can it prove enough? England were defeated in all meetings by the All Blacks previously by a total margin of just 10 points, and regarding taking chances, Scott Robertson's side remain highly effective as any. Given this event, there must be a strong possibility of an intense battle that could boil down to the final 20 minutes. That's exactly what this setup is expecting.