Scott Barrett returns as New Zealand take on England

New Zealand captain Scott Barrett. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has recovered from a leg wound in time to face England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Barrett needed 12 stitches to repair the cut sustained in the victory over Ireland in Chicago on November 1 and was absent for last weekend's 25-17 win against Scotland.

The 87-cap veteran second-row came through a crucial training session on Tuesday and will take charge of grand slam-chasing New Zealand, with openside Ardie Savea dropping to vice captain.

Super-sub Damian McKenzie continues on the bench despite producing the late try that nudged the All Blacks over the line at Murrayfield, with Beauden Barrett continuing at fly-half.

Leicester Fainga'anuku moves to the left wing after Caleb Clarke was ruled out of the Hillary Shield showdown because of concussion.

Five of the last seven games between the All Blacks and England have been decided by three points or less.

"Twickenham is one of the iconic venues in world rugby and there is nothing quite like hearing 80,000 fans singing 'Swing Low' to get the adrenaline pumping," head coach Scott Robertson said.

"Recent games against England have been incredibly close-fought and both teams are coming off a run of wins, so we are expecting an epic clash."

Meanwhile, scrum half Maxime Lucu will start for France against Fiji in Bordeaux on Saturday, replacing La Rochelle's Nolann Le Garrec, who has been ruled out of the Autumn series due to a thigh injury. Coach Fabien Galthie has made six changes to the side beaten 32-17 by world champions South Africa.

The reshuffle includes the return of captain Gregory Alldritt at number eight in place of Mickael Guillard.

"We are very ambitious because we are the France team," Galthie said. "At number eight for the past three years, Greg has been the one holding things together. He is a player of great quality, of international class. He also needs to regenerate," he said.

England: F Steward; T Roebuck, O Lawrence, F Dingwall, I Feyi-Waboso; G Ford, A Mitchell; F Baxter, J George, J Heyes, M Itoje, A Coles, G Pepper, S Underhill, B Earl.

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie, E Genge, W Stuart, C Cunningham-South, T Curry, H Pollock, B Spencer, M Smith.

New Zealand: W Jordan; L Carter, B Proctor, Q Tupaea, L Fainga'anuku; B Barrett, C Roigard; E de Groot, C Taylor, F Newell, S Barrett, F Holland, S Parker, A Savea, P Lakai.

Replacements: S Taukei'aho, T Williams, P Tosi, J Lord, W Sititi, C Ratima, A Lienert-Brown, D McKenzie.

France (v Fiji): T Ramos, D Penaud, N Depoortere, P-L Barassi, L Bielle-Biarrey, R Ntamack, M Lucu; J-B Gros, J Marchand, R Montagne, C Ollivon, E Meafou, A Jelonch, O Jegou, G Alldritt. 

Replacements: M Lamothe, R Neti, T Laclayat, R Taofifenua, H Auradou, P Boudehent, B Jauneau, E Gailleton.

Wales (v Japan): B Murray; L Rees-Zammit, M Llewellyn, B Thomas, J Adams; D Edwards, T Williams; N Smith, D Lake, A Griffin; D Jenkins, A Beard; A Wainwright, A Mann, O Cracknell.

Replacements: L Belcher, R Carre, K Assiratti, F Thomas, T Plumtree, K Hardy, J Evans, N Tompkins.