• Teammate believes wing can surprise New Zealand
• Test series begins in Dunedin on Saturday

The All Blacks have been warned to watch out for England’s new secret weapon in the first Test in Dunedin on Saturday. New Zealand have not yet encountered the visitors’ fast-rising wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and the 21-year-old’s Exeter teammate Henry Slade believes they will be in for “a shock” when the sides meet at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Along with everyone else, Slade has been hugely impressed by Feyi-Waboso’s rapid progress for club and country and predicts the home side will be surprised by the latter’s pace, ability and strength in the tackle. “That guy is one of the most freakishly gifted ­athletes I’ve ever seen,” said Slade, who is poised to start at outside-centre against the All Blacks. “People who have never played against him probably underestimate him. The first time he plays against someone he does really well. They [New Zealand] probably wouldn’t have heard much about him or seen much of him. But if he gets on the pitch I reckon he’ll give them a shock.”

• Coach to miss first Test against All Blacks next weekend
• ‘Steve Borthwick and the team have been wonderful’

Kevin Sinfield has been granted compassionate leave from England’s tour of New Zealand to fly home and attend his friend Rob Burrow’s funeral next weekend.

Sinfield will miss the first Test against the All Blacks but is planning to return in time for the second Test in Auckland the following weekend.

Jordie is heading to Leinster. Beauden is back from Japan. Scott is All Blacks captain. And next up is England for the unique siblings

New Zealand rugby has had some talented families – the Whettons, the Brookes, the Clarkes – but nothing to match the brilliant Barretts. Kevin and Robyn Barrett have eight children and three of them will be wearing All Black jerseys against England in Dunedin next weekend. Beauden already has 123 international caps, Scott is his country’s new captain and Jordie is among his deputies.

Rugby-wise there are few peaks unscaled by one sibling or another, which may explain why Jordie has bucked the trend of All Black sabbaticals by signing a six-month contract with Leinster, starting in December. One of the planet’s most impressively versatile and impactful players is looking forward to heading north to see how the other half lives.