9 Nov 2018

All Blacks v England: What the English press is saying

7:42 am on 9 November 2018

It's only a few days until kick off in one of the biggest All Black games of the season, against England at Twickenham. So what are the English press saying?

Manu Tuilagi.

Manu Tuilagi. Photo: Photosport

Sean Fitzpatrick, former All Black captain and now Sky Sport UK commentator:

"There is no secret to beating New Zealand - you have to take them on and put them under pressure. What the All Blacks do is build pressure themselves and if they are not making mistakes then they are very hard to live with. England have to take their opportunities when they come. England have to cut down on their mistakes and tackle, however they cannot just expect to win by defending, they need to attack and look to score some tries."

The Guardian:

"England have told Maro Itoje to get in the faces of the All Blacks on Saturday despite mounting concerns over his discipline. With the tough-tackling Sam Underhill also poised for a recall, Eddie Jones is set to name an England side on Thursday designed to rattle the world champions at Twickenham."

Stuart Barnes of Sky Sport UK, and former England player:

"New Zealand have a dark black winning aura they take with them to intimidate opposition. Neither team have looked near their best in recent games but while New Zealand have dipped in their highest quality of rugby, England have picked up from the horror show that was their Six Nations performances. Both sides were perhaps fortunate to beat South Africa, the Springboks are getting pretty good at beating themselves. But with Twickenham urging England on, Saturday might not be the formality many think it will be."

The All Blacks perform the haka during the third rugby test against England at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton during the Steinlager Series - 21 June 2014.

The All Blacks perform the haka before they play England in 2014. Photo: Photosport

Bryan Habana, former Springbok wing and UK sports commentator:

"If you look at occasions where teams have beaten the All Blacks, it's occasions where teams have taken the game to them. Not only on attack but on defence as well. In the Boks' win in Wellington in September, they forced the All Blacks into making mistakes - the Willie le Roux try from a Jordie Barrett error a case in point. It's stuff they don't normally do, and it came about because they were rushed, and therefore their time on the ball was cut down."

Nick Evans, The Guardian:

"I expect Saturday's match to be a lot closer than people may think. I was talking to Joe Marler before the Springboks game and explaining just how wary the All Blacks are of playing at Twickenham. England have lost only once - to Ireland - there under Eddie and they are a different beast at home. Eddie is right to say the All Blacks will be completely different to the Springboks and try and hold on to the ball more, but Twickenham is a funny old ground and you have to play the territorial game.

Tom Wood, former England flanker who played in the winning England team of 2012:

"A lot of teams get overwhelmed by the occasion when they're playing the All Blacks.

"Often teams get very excited and come out all guns blazing, put the All Blacks under enormous pressure in the first half maybe, but there's always a sense of inevitability that the All Blacks will take control at some stage and run away with it. You see that quite a lot."

- Read our top 10 moments in England v All Blacks games.

Will Greenwood, Sky Sports UK commentator and former England player:

"I've always felt, that if you want to beat the All Blacks - unless you're playing in Wellington, when it's chucking it down with rain - you've got to score 30 points," he told Newshub.

"South Africa coughed up ball and turned ball over, and England didn't score points.

"When New Zealand give you the ball, you have to score points, because you know when you give them the ball, they will score points.

"England only managed 12 against South Africa. They need to be two or three times better."

Mick Cleary of The Telegraph:

Eddie Jones believes he has the blueprint for beating New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon, a result that would be akin to "climbing Everest".

The England head coach sat down with his senior players on Sunday night to work through the notes they had compiled from their Lions experiences in New Zealand last summer, when the All Blacks were defeated in Wellington and the series drawn.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

We have regular online commentary of local and international sport.