Grewcock to make amends

Grewcock was in top form during the Six Nations

England lock Danny Grewcock insists his sending-off on his last visit to Dunedin will not affect him against New Zealand on Saturday.

Grewcock was red-carded for stamping in England's 64-22 defeat there in 1998 and was suspended for last year's tour.

"It was one of those unfortunate incidents and it happened a long time ago," he told BBC Five Live. "It doesn't really affect me to be honest.

"Thankfully the coaches didn't think it was such a big deal and stuck with me."

Grewcock is the only current England player to have been sent off in a Test and received a five-week ban for his indiscretion.

It is going to be heavy going but we are used to that Danny Grewcock

He was due to travel to New Zealand 12 months ago but was suspended after being sent off for aiming a flurry of punches at England team-mate Lawrence Dallaglio during the Parker Pen Cup final.

The pair will be on the same side on Saturday, when Grewcock - following the retirement of Martin Johnson - will be the senior partner alongside Simon Shaw in the second row.

"I am pleased to be picked in the starting line-up," added Grewcock, who will win his 48th cap.

Grewcock's moment of shame in 1998

"It is tough competition even without 'Johnno' there. 'Borth' (Bath team-mate Steve Borthwick) is really pushing hard for a place."

Grewcock admits his role will feature plenty of the "fairly slow, smashing-into-each-other work" in what should be a brutal forward collision.

"I am sure it is going to be a tough battle up front, as it is in all Test matches," he said. "It is going to be heavy going but we are used to that and we are looking forward to it."

It may be heavy going in more than one sense, with zero temperatures and possible snow showers forecast for the far south of New Zealand's South Island.

"I think the guys will cope with the cold weather - we are used to that," Grewcock added. "We have adjusted in the past when conditions haven't been great and it will be the same on Saturday.

"If it is a beautiful, clear night - fantastic. If it is raining and freezing cold, so be it. We will adjust to the conditions."