Ed Slater says it will be a huge honour to captain England in Tuesday's tour match with Super 15 side the Crusaders.
Slater has been handed the armband for his first appearance of the tour to New Zealand and forms a second-row partnership with Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby).
“It’s a huge honour,” says Slater, who led Leicester Tigers during the last third of the season. “I was lucky enough to captain Leicester Tigers earlier in the season. When Stuart Lancaster asked me, you never expect these things so to be asked is a huge honour.
“It’s a big boost. I was disappointed not to be involved in the first two Tests. To lead the side out on Tuesday is going to be a massive achievement for me.”
Kick-off at Canterbury’s AMI Stadium is at 8.35am (BST) and the game is live on Sky Sports 1 and Slater says the game represents an opportunity for some of the squad to stake a claim for a Test shirt.
“For a lot of the boys it’s a big opportunity,” says Slater. “There are some frustrated guys, naturally. It’s a competitive squad. Tuesday is a massive occasion for some of those guys to put a stamp on the team and to prove a few things.
“We are really looking forward to the game. It’s going to be a full house and a great atmosphere.”
Click here for England team news.
Slater has been handed the armband for his first appearance of the tour to New Zealand and forms a second-row partnership with Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby).
“It’s a huge honour,” says Slater, who led Leicester Tigers during the last third of the season. “I was lucky enough to captain Leicester Tigers earlier in the season. When Stuart Lancaster asked me, you never expect these things so to be asked is a huge honour.
“It’s a big boost. I was disappointed not to be involved in the first two Tests. To lead the side out on Tuesday is going to be a massive achievement for me.”
Kick-off at Canterbury’s AMI Stadium is at 8.35am (BST) and the game is live on Sky Sports 1 and Slater says the game represents an opportunity for some of the squad to stake a claim for a Test shirt.
“For a lot of the boys it’s a big opportunity,” says Slater. “There are some frustrated guys, naturally. It’s a competitive squad. Tuesday is a massive occasion for some of those guys to put a stamp on the team and to prove a few things.
“We are really looking forward to the game. It’s going to be a full house and a great atmosphere.”
Click here for England team news.
