England boss Clive Woodward has admitted Neil Back had been on the wrong end of "a very big decision" that has left him out of the starting line-up against New Zealand at Twickenham today.

Back, who won his 50th cap last season, has been omitted by Woodward for the first time since he took charge of England five years ago.

Woodward has preferred a back-row of Lewis Moody, Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio, with Back providing cover on the bench.

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

"It is the first time since I have been in charge that there has been genuine contenders against Back, Dallaglio and Hill.

"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 he is in a very competitive position."

Woodward also had words of comfort for Gloucester scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, who is not in the 22, given that Austin Healey will provide back up for Matt Dawson.

"It is very tough on Andy, but if Matt Dawson gets injured this week, then Gomarsall starts. He is ahead of Kyran Bracken at the moment, and is very close on the heals of Dawson."

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.

Woodward has named one new cap, 20-year-old Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel to face the All Blacks, and the head coach is looking forward to seeing how he performs.

"James is a very talented football player. 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 when England have reeled off 15 successive Test victories on home soil.

However New Zealand remain the one major rugby nation that Woodward has not masterminded a victory against.

In his five cracks at the All Blacks, England have drawn once and lost on four occasions.