That visit would have been England's first since 2005 and came against the backdrop of New Zealand's prior withdrawal from Pakistan citing a specific and credible security threat. Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck was taken off on a stretcher in the second half of his side's 1-0 win at Reading. England captain Farrell initially returned a positive test the Friday before the match and was ruled out for certain on the morning of the game, seeing George Furbank take his slot at fly-half and Courtney Lawes named as skipper in his absence. The third seed lost the aggression which dominated the early part of the set, instead resorting to a defensive sliced forehand, which Hercog picked off at ease.