England boss Clive Woodward said he had a hard time choosing between flankers Lewis Moody and Neil Back for Saturday's match against New Zealand.

"It was a very big and a very close decision, but ever since Argentina in the summer, I have always been thinking of Lewis Moody starting this game," said Woodward.

"Moody came through strongly in Argentina, and he deserves his chance.

"It is the first time in five years that I have left Neil out, and he is very disappointed, but his is a very competitive position."

Woodward also had words of comfort for Gloucester scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, who is not in the 22.

Austin Healey's ability to play at fly-half in addition to scrum-half means that he won the vote, especially with Charlie Hodgson and Mike Catt both injured.

"It is very tough on Andy, but if Matt Dawson gets injured this week, then Gomarsall starts," Woodward said.

"He is ahead of Kyran Bracken at the moment, and is very close on the heals of Matt Dawson."

Woodward is excited by the opportunity to watch how his one new cap, 20-year-old Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel, performs.

"James is a very talented football player," said Woodward.

"He has got an outstanding skill range, and we are not experimenting here. He is in on form and he has got his chance."

New Zealand were the last team to beat England at Twickenham - a 30-16 victory during the 1999 World Cup.

Since then, England have reeled off 15 successive Test victories on home soil.