England’s new boys

England skipper Chris Robshaw will lead out a new-look side against world champions New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.

You may not be too familiar with some fresh faces in the starting XV, so here here’s our lowdown on England’s quartet of international bright young things.

Kyle Eastmond
Club: Bath
Position: Centre
Age: 24
Caps: 2

The twinkle-toed centre is a rugby league convert who has found his feet in union and is set to win his third cap in Auckland. The cousin of Colchester and ex-Arsenal defender Craig Eastmond, Kyle said he’d never cooked a meal in his life when he crossed codes from St Helens to Bath in 2011.

His culinary skills may need some work, but Eastmond’s talents with ball in hand have earned him comparisons with his idol – and someone who set the standards for players switching codes – Jason Robinson.

Random fact: Eastmond hates dogs.

Freddie Burns
Club: Leicester
Position: Fly-half
Age: 24
Caps: 3

The 24-year-old cites ex-All Blacks fly-half Carlos Spencer as his rugby hero, and there is certainly a dash of the former Northampton and Gloucester man’s flair in his willingness to try the unexpected with ball in hand.

Burns, who is also a fan of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, looked to the manor born when he made his Test debut off the bench against New Zealand in the famous 38-21 win in 2012 and he will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday.

Random fact: Burns’ all-time favourite TV show is Entourage.

Rob Webber
Club: Bath
Position: Hooker
Age: 27
Caps: 5

Webber switched from the back to the front row, having made his first-team debut off the bench for Wasps – where club legend Lawrence Dallaglio greeted him with a friendly “what the hell are you doing here?” – as a flanker.

The 27-year-old is now firmly established as a top-notch hooker and should have no problems if line-out leader Geoff Parling asks him to throw to the tail, having won an English schools title in the javelin as a teenager.

Random fact: Webber is studying for a degree in leadership and management.

Marland Yarde
Club: Harlequins
Position: Winger
Age: 22
Caps: 2

The 22-year-old winger is one of the best dressers in the changing room, with a style described as “bang on trend” by one of his coaches at London Irish. That sharpness extends to the pitch where his try-scoring instincts have helped him make a remarkable rise from rugby novice to England team in the space of seven years.

Yarde remains a huge fan of QPR, who had him on their books as a teenager, and was at Wembley last month to see his club win promotion to the Premier League.

Random fact: Yarde’s father is called Scotland. Honestly.