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Black and white: Ben Foden and Chris Ashton model the new England kits - Source: Getty Images -
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England have unveiled their new black strip, which they will wear in their opening Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday (NZT).
Martin Johnson's side will also wear the new away kit in their World Cup pool match against Argentina on Sept 10 in Dunedin because their white jersey clashes with the South Americans' blue and white hoops.
The decision to change their away kit from grey to all-black has attracted criticism in New Zealand, notably from Prime Minister John Key and former All Blacks wing Jonah Lomu, who accused England of "disrespecting" the World Cup hosts by replicating their famous strip.
"The All Blacks are synonymous with being in all black, and England the white shirt they have," Lomu told the BBC last week.
"I will find it difficult to watch England in a different shirt.
"I am one of those people who was brought up on the history of rugby, watching the great players of the past who have worn the England shirt and also the All Blacks."
But England flanker Tom Wood, who was today named in England's revised Rugby World Cup training squad, defended the strip, saying England had never criticised New Zealand for wearing an alternate white strip.
"It has the red rose on it and that is all that matters to us," Wood told the Telegraph.
"It is a bit of a marketing tactic and will raise a few eyebrows, I am sure. "But I don't think ultimately it will concern the All Blacks themselves. It is a change kit for the Argentina game, who play in white, so it is necessary.
"The All Blacks have worn white as their change kit and we haven't said anything about that. Perhaps the media will make something of it, but we like it. It looks good and it good to wear."
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