England hooker Jamie George has issued a stark warning to his teammates ahead of their monumental Autumn Nations Series clash with New Zealand, insisting they must not be seduced by the All Blacks' formidable aura if they are to secure a first Twickenham victory over the visitors in 13 years.
Breaking the All Blacks Spell
George, a former England captain, highlighted the psychological challenge facing the squad this Saturday. "What a lot of teams do is sit back in awe of the All Blacks with their history and all their incredible players," George stated. "It's easy to do that. I've probably done it in the past." The last time England defeated New Zealand at their home fortress was back in 2012, with the All Blacks emerging victorious in the last five encounters at the famous stadium.
The build-up to the match has been positive for England head coach Steve Borthwick, who welcomes Elliot Daly back to full fitness. Daly, who could make his first appearance since fracturing an arm on British & Irish Lions duty, was named in a 37-man squad alongside Freddie Steward and Tom Roebuck.
Contrasting Fortunes and a Formidable Foe
England's confidence is high following their 38-18 victory over Fiji, which extended their winning run to an impressive nine matches. This current form presents a stark contrast to the struggles of just 12 months ago, when the team was mired in a run of six defeats in seven matches.
Three of those painful losses were inflicted by New Zealand, including two on the 2024 summer tour and a narrow 24-22 reverse at Twickenham after George Ford missed two late kicks at goal. England's sole victory in the last 11 meetings remains the legendary 2019 World Cup semi-final.
Despite the Springboks holding the top world ranking, George was unequivocal in his assessment of the upcoming opponents, heralding the All Blacks as "arguably the best side in the world." New Zealand arrive at Twickenham after edging out Scotland, keeping their hopes for a home nations grand slam alive.
A Newfound Resilience and Closing Power
Ben Earl, who was named man of the match against Fiji, believes the heartbreak of those three narrow defeats to the All Blacks last year has forged a tougher, more resilient England squad. "You feel battle-hardened, you feel like you've got the wounds, you've got the scar tissue to learn from those losses, and they hurt at the time," Earl reflected.
This newfound strength is evidenced by England's ability to romp clear in the final quarter of matches, a trait they displayed convincingly against Fiji. George emphasised this point, stating, "We've placed a big emphasis on the latter stages of games and closing games out. Scoring however many tries in the last quarter of that game is a sign of a good team."
For the crucial fixture, Borthwick is expected to recall several key figures, with captain Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, and George Ford all likely to return to the starting lineup. Despite knocks against Fiji, both Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso have been included in the preparation squad.
Borthwick acknowledged the scale of the challenge, viewing it as a vital benchmark for his developing side. "We want to challenge ourselves against the best teams and [New Zealand] are one of those best teams," he said. "We're a young side, we're developing, I think we're growing quickly and we're keen to learn. So I'm sure next week's going to be a great assessment for us."
The stage is set for a titanic encounter at a sold-out Twickenham, where England's mental fortitude will be tested as much as their physical prowess against one of rugby's most storied institutions.
