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New Zealand vs England: England seek historic series win against All Blacks

Posted on by angelo

Image source, Getty Images

Legend, Fly-half Marcus Smith will be key to England’s hopes of securing their first series win in New Zealand

First test New Zealand v England

Date: Saturday July 6th To start up: 08:05 BST Place: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Blanket: Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

When England last toured New Zealand ten years ago, the All Blacks were at the top of world rugby.

After winning the World Cup in 2011, Steve Hansen’s team went on an extraordinary run that culminated in a second consecutive victory in 2015.

A new generation of future All Blacks stars were emerging, while all-time greats like Richie McCaw and Dan Carter were still in their prime.

Even without the injured Carter, and despite strong English performances in the first two Tests, the All Blacks ultimately won the series 3-0, cementing their status as the dominant rugby nation on earth.

The landscape is different in 2024. South Africa and France have taken over – the Springboks on the pitch and the French off it. The Japanese league has managed to convince top All Blacks to take sabbaticals or international retirements. Covid has taken its toll.

“It’s been a tough few years, there’s no doubt about that,” New Zealand Rugby Union boss Mark Robinson said.

The Henry-Hansen-Ian Foster line – which led the All Blacks for 20 years – has been broken, with popular former flanker Scott Robertson, 49, now at the helm after guiding the Crusaders to seven consecutive Super Rugby titles.

“He spent a tremendous amount of time developing his craft,” Robinson said.

“He thought long and hard about this role. He feels that this is the right time for him.”

But despite the excitement of the Robertson era, New Zealand’s often optimistic rugby public is a little nervous.

The All Blacks have not played a match since their World Cup final defeat last October, while a host of key players including second-rows Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, scrum-half Aaron Smith and fly-half Richie Mo’unga are unavailable.

“There is uncertainty about how this team will come together,” said Liam Napier of the New Zealand Herald.

“I look at this New Zealand team and there are so many unknowns,” admitted former England scrum-half Danny Care.

“They don’t have the players that we fear anymore. They have players that we respect a lot, but as a team, do we literally go in with fear? I don’t think New Zealand have that at the moment.

“It’s a massive opportunity for England to go out there and surprise the New Zealand world.”

“England’s style of play has evolved”

The local media have also noted England’s excellent performances at the end of the Six Nations and their impeccable performance in the win over Japan in Tokyo. Nor has the continuity in Steve Borthwick’s selection or the change in style of play since last autumn’s World Cup.

“They’re not traditional England, they’ve evolved,” Napier said. “Maybe England have a chance to surprise the All Blacks with their style.

“There is a cohesion between them and they have largely chosen the same name. But how will this All Blacks team come together? Nobody is really sure.”

While Borthwick had his full squad together for almost four weeks, Robertson had his for just 10 days, with leaders like Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett missing the Super Rugby season while playing in Japan.

“I’m nervous,” Savea, the world player of the year, admitted on Thursday. “But nerves allow us to give our best. And it’s a big challenge for me to go out there and try to take it on.”

“We’re hoping England can maybe catch up with New Zealand a little bit,” Care said.

“There are a lot of things that put the All Blacks in a different space to where they’ve been in recent years,” added former England winger Chris Ashton.

Despite all this, England fans remain cautiously optimistic.

The All Blacks still have a few world-class players, whether it’s the magnificent Savea or the talented Jordie Barrett (the third of the brothers in today’s squad). TJ Perenara is back at scrum-half after a two-year absence. Robertson can even afford to leave the great Beauden Barrett out of his starting XV.

The inexperienced England team – the vast majority of whose players have never played in New Zealand – will be tested mentally and physically. It is the All Blacks who play in New Zealand and that remains – according to Borthwick – the greatest challenge in world rugby.

But it still appears that England have a unique chance to make history and become only the third English team – after 1973 and 2003 – to win a Test in New Zealand.

Under Robertson’s leadership, the All Blacks can only improve. All the cobwebs will be swept away, and quickly.

Next week’s second test will take place at Auckland’s Eden Park, the spiritual home of All Blacks rugby, where their record is incomprehensibly good.

For England, Saturday in Dunedin may be now or never.