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England will field new half-backs for Saturday's final Test against New Zealand and are also considering an overhaul of their three-quarter line.
The tourists' quest for only a third victory over the All Blacks on Kiwi soil as consolation for their series defeat has been hit by injuries to Owen Farrell and Danny Care.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster, who names his team tonight, has already confirmed that Freddie Burns will start at fly-half after Farrell was ruled out with a knee injury.
Care's shoulder injury places him in serious doubt for the Waikato Stadium with Lancaster facing a choice between Lee Dickson and Ben Youngs at scrum-half.
England are unlikely to persevere with the experiment of playing Manu Tuilagi on the wing after the positional switch limited his attacking threat in the 28-27 defeat in Dunedin.
Instead, Tuilagi could be restored at outside centre with Chris Ashton coming on to the right wing.
Show all 32 1 /32New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Ben Smith - 9 At times he bordered on the sublime, and he prospered at full-back in the absence of Israel Dagg. His try swung the momentum in the All Blacks’ favour and started their 20 minute period of utter domination.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Corey Jane - 6 The quiet man of New Zealand’s lethal back-three but he performed everything to a high level in a mistake-free performance. Defensively sound against the dangerous Yarde.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Conrad Smith - 9 His tactical genius tormented Twelvetrees and Burrell, with his dummy on the former their final try a particular highlight. A linchpin in the Kiwi back line, and England need to find a way to deal with him.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Ma'a Nonu - 8 The improvement in a just seven days was huge, as Nonu had a devastating effect on England’s defence. He ran hard yet showed impressive agility to dance through miniscule gaps, and his passing opened the channels for those outside him.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Julian Savea - 8 The wing just doesn’t know how not to score. Each time he got his hands on the ball he threatened to break free, and score his fifth try against England in just three meetings to take his overall tally to 20 in 21 Tests.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Aaron Cruden - 7 His break for Smith’s try was beautifully crafted as he identified the gap between the lagging forwards. Kicking could have been better, but he controlled the flow of a rampant back line very well.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Aaron Smith - 7 Showed just how big a threat the small man can be, as he plugged away at the gaps around the England maul and scrum to good effect. Spurned a chance in the first half though.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Tony Woodcock - 6 Coped much better in the scrum after recovering from a difficult start. Somewhat quiet in the loose though and could look to up his work rate.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Dan Coles - 7 A much better game saw him replaced by Mealamu when the game was won. 100 per cent at the lineout gave the All Blacks a strong platform to attack from. A good day’s work.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Owen Franks - 6 Struggled early with pressure from Marler in the scrum. Still non-existent in the loose, and needs to offer more going forward to help out the rest of the pack.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Brodie Retallick - 7 A very good showing from the lock as he secured lineout ball repeatedly and disrupted England’s set piece to strong effect. Tackled and ran well, and helped to nullify England’s forward advantage of the first Test.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Sam Whitelock - 7 Ran repeatedly although saw little success in terms of ground gained. Stole English ball on one occasion, and worked well with Retallick to improve significantly on last week’s poor showing.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Liam Messam - 7 Not as destructive on defence as we have grown accustomed to but popped up a number of times out wide, and could have had a try is Conrad Smith hadn’t passed straight into touch.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Richie McCaw - 6 When can you ever say McCaw missed a tackle to allow a try. Unusual lapse allowed Yarde to score early, but recovered quickly after. Nearly had a try of his own only to be held up by replacement Matt Mullan.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Jerome Kaino - 8 Marauding back-row made some impressive gains, especially during New Zealand’s purple patch. Constantly a threat with hand in ball, as he combined pace and power to beat defenders.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Beuden Barrett - 7 Introduced in the second half and probed the England defence to great effect. Kick very well too and is pressuring Cruden to start.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Mike Brown - 6 Settled much quicker this week, and never gave up as he set-up the final try for England after scoring a debateable one of his own. Hasn’t been at his best in New Zealand though.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Manu Tuilagi - 7 Wasted on the wing, as he looked to use brawn over pace when he got the ball. Took risks with a number of offloads which luckily paid off, but spurned a chance in the first half for a breakaway try.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Luther Burrell - 6 Ran hard at the New Zealand line but more often than not found a stiff defence in front of him. Should partner Tuilagi next week as he continues to develop.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Billy Twelvetrees - 4 A poor game by all accounts for the returning centre. Lack of match practice didn’t help, especially against the All Blacks, and a number of mistakes put his side under pressure.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Marland Yarde - 6 Took his chance early very well as he broke the tackle of McCaw, and threated throughout the opening 40. Faded as England were starved of the ball, and was caught out for Nonu’s try.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Owen Farrell - 6 His control of England’s game was evidently shown when he was absent for 10 minutes for killing the ball. Could have shown more in attack, but reliable with his kicking as he landed four from five. Kicking from hand must be better.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Danny Care - 5 Set-up Yarde’s try but showed a rare sloppiness in his game. Dropped the ball twice after England’s pack has worked hard to gain momentum.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Joe Marler - 6 Had a tremendous start against Franks in the scrum, and his carrying was good. Could have done more to get on the front-foot and was horribly mismatched by Savea for Smith’s try.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Rob Webber - 6 Lost his 100 per cent record at the lineout as they lost three on their own throw. Replaced by Hartley early in the second half.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings David Wilson - 7 A better game in the loose and even showed his footwork with one impressive run late and a kick early on. Knows he can do more in the scrum as England gained momentum towards the end.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Joe Launchbury - 6 Very quiet in both the lineout and around the park, and could be in danger of losing his place to Lawes next week.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Geoff Parling - 6 Stuart Lancaster stuck with him for his control, and he attracted a lot of attention in the lineout. Smashed opposite number Retallick in the first half with a powerful tackle.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Tom Wood - 6 Took on a lot of responsibility in the lineout and showed good hands to create the final try. Ran his heart out and unlucky to be on the losing side.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Chris Robshaw - 6 Snaffled a long-range pass with a turn of pace akin to a natural seven, and performed his usual link role between the pack and the backs to reasonable effect. Not as prominent in the loose though.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Ben Morgan - 6 Much quitter this week but showed one good run off the base of the scrum to inject England with some go forward. Likely to be replaced by Vunipola next week.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Chris Ashton - 6 His contribution was minimal in time but maximal in effect as he scored in the dying seconds. Pushing his claim to start next week.
Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell have recovered from ankle injuries and are in contention for the climax to the series, but may lose out to the Kyle Eastmond-Tuilagi partnership used in Auckland.
Twelvetrees started well at the Forsyth Barr Stadium only to make some glaring errors in the second half and Burrell was quiet, so Eastmond may be rewarded for his strong performance in the first Test.
Hooker Dylan Hartley, lock Courtney Lawes and number eight Billy Vunipola appear set for starts to freshen up the pack with Rob Webber, Joe Launcbury and Ben Morgan making way.
Danny Cipriani, who started the 38-7 win over the Crusaders, is expected to confirm his climb up the pecking order by being preferred ahead of Stephen Myler by offering specialist fly-half cover from the bench.
The 26-year-old has been successfully reintegrated into the England squad after a six-year exile, winning his eighth cap in the first Test against the All Blacks and now close to claiming a ninth.
"I've learnt an awful lot from the coaches and I played with a confidence against the Crusaders that I can learn from," Cipriani said.
"The confidence is what the coaches are instilling in us and that's put me in good stead for next season and to have a big pre-season.
"England are developing something great, just with the DNA and culture that's been provided."
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