NEW ZEALAND have named virtually their strongest side – including Richie McCaw and Dan Carter — for Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.

SIMON SHAW and Mathew Tait have both been included in the England squad for Saturday’s final Investec Challenge showdown with New Zealand at Twickenham.

Stephen Donald will start at inside centre for New Zealand in Saturday’s Tri-Nations showdown with South Africa in Hamilton.

Daniel Carter has been named in the New Zealand starting XV for Saturday’s must-win Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Sydney.

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu is to undergo surgery on a ruptured chest muscle and will be out of rugby for at least four months.

IRELAND A coach Michael Bradley has upped the ante ahead of tonight’s Churchill Cup clash with New Zealand Maori (8pm, Sky Sports 1) by revealing a number of his players are in the mix for World Cup selection.

Crusaders centre Rua Tipoki will lead the New Zealand Maori in their Churchill Cup defence this month.