McKenzie "took himself out" of the All Blacks No. 10 jersey for clash with England

The All Blacks name their matchday squad for a mouthwatering showdown at Twickenham this weekend overnight Friday. But don't expect to see Damian McKenzie's name among the starting XV, says Shane Howarth.

The Chiefs pivot was overlooked for the second Bledisloe Cup contest in favour of Beauden Barrett, before returning to the starting line-up against Japan last weekend.

The All Blacks finished unconvincingly against the Brave Blossoms, in large part due to what Howarth - who played four tests for NZ and 19 for Wales - believes was McKenzie's failure to steer the side and drive home their advantage after a period of dominance leading into halftime.

That lack of presence is what will cost him the starting spot this weekend, he adds.

"I think Damian McKenzie probably took himself out of the No. 10 spot," Howarth told SENZ's Scotty & Izzy.

"McKenzie has been very good for the Chiefs this year. But I think with these upcoming games, we can't afford to be loose.

"There was a 20-minute period at the back end of that first half where the play was exceptional and then we should have, as good All Blacks sides do, put the foot on the throat and just be ruthless, and we lost that in that second half.

"Watching Damian McKenzie, we couldn't get ourselves back on the track we were on, and that worries me a little bit, because your decision makers have to be able to change their attack to the game and I just didn't see it."

The All Blacks have already met the English twice this season in two very tightly contested Tests back in July, where the hosts came away victorious in matches where the results could easily have swung the other way.

The majority of Scott Robertson's side haven't played since they beat Australia in Wellington in late September, but will need to hit the ground running against a formidable English pack set to utilise an unforgiving forwards-based gameplan.

"I think they would have been pleased with their play in New Zealand. They probably should have won the second Test," said Howarth. "So, they'll be buoyed. They've picked a heck of a side.

"A fair portion of our All Blacks haven't played since the last Aussie test, so there's going to be a little bit of rustiness in us.

"For the All Blacks, they've just got to try and be dominant for that first 20 minutes, take the crowd out of it.

"I know it's easy to say, but I think we have to front up upfront because looking at the English pack, that's what their whole mantra is going to be."

Listen to the full interview below: