Imagine the roar of the crowd, the weight of history, the chance to become legends. England's rugby team stands on the precipice of something truly special: only eight English sides ever have conquered the mighty All Blacks of New Zealand. Now, Ford and George are rallying the troops, urging them to seize this moment and etch their names in the annals of sporting greatness. But can they actually pull it off?
England enters Saturday's highly anticipated match as slight favorites, fueled by the prospect of their first Twickenham victory over New Zealand in a staggering 13 years. Former captain Jamie George has reportedly delivered a passionate call to arms, challenging his teammates to create their own legacy. Steve Borthwick's squad is riding a nine-match winning streak, a testament to their current form. However, recent history paints a less rosy picture: England has lost their last three Tests against the All Blacks, their most recent victory dating back to the unforgettable 2019 World Cup semi-final. The last time they triumphed over New Zealand on home soil at Twickenham was in 2012, a match forever remembered for Manu Tuilagi's electrifying performance.
This Saturday marks the 47th clash between these two rugby giants, with England having emerged victorious on only eight occasions throughout their 120-year rivalry. Despite the historical odds, Borthwick's men sense a golden opportunity to make a statement. Since that momentous 2012 victory, New Zealand has dominated at Twickenham, winning four out of five encounters, with the 2022 match ending in a tense draw. Addressing England's prolonged wait for a home win, fly-half George Ford remarked with a touch of disbelief: "It’s a long time ago, isn’t it? It makes me feel old."
Ford emphasized the rarity of England's victories against the All Blacks at Twickenham, stating, "There’s only been eight ever. It’s like: ‘Come on, let’s have a ninth now. 100%. Let’s change that.’" He revealed that Jamie George had addressed the team, highlighting the enduring legacy of the 2012 victory and then challenging them to become the team of 2025 that people will be talking about for years to come. "The New Zealand game at Twickenham, 13 years ago, was the last one. It’s definitely part of my motivation.”
Ford, who agonizingly missed two late kicks that could have secured an England victory against New Zealand last year, is one of six players in the current squad who experienced the highs of the 2019 World Cup semi-final. He believes that the 2025 team must take the initiative and aggressively challenge the All Blacks in every aspect of the game to replicate that success. "There is a belief, 100%, you can feel that in the week," he asserted. "And you are exactly right. You’ve got to go at a team like this in every area of the game. When we’ve got the ball, we’ve got to go at them. And when they’ve got the ball, we’ve got to go at them. The kicking game, the set piece, we’ve got to go at them.” This aggressive mentality, according to Ford, will be pivotal to securing a historic win.
Remember the powerful image of England lining up in a V-formation to confront the haka before the 2019 semi-final? Or last year's bold advance to the halfway line, which ignited the Twickenham crowd? But here's where it gets controversial... Will England have a similar response planned this time around? When questioned about any counter-haka strategies, tighthead prop Joe Heyes kept his cards close to his chest, stating, "I don’t think so, no. Let’s hope our rugby [gets the crowd going]." Heyes emphasized the crucial role of the home crowd, noting that their support provides a significant boost, especially when the team is under pressure.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks, led by captain Scott Barrett, are determined to silence the Twickenham faithful. Barrett openly admitted that the 2019 defeat still haunts the team. And this is the part most people miss... Barrett also acknowledged that he wasn't surprised by England being rated as favorites, despite the All Blacks' recent strong record in this fixture. This is a subtle mind game, potentially designed to lower expectations and heap pressure on the English.
“Noise is ultimately a distraction that you can be frustrated by but we’ll be using that as fuel,” said Barrett. “There are a lot of Kiwis over here but a damn sight more English who would be singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot at the end of the game if we’re down. We can use that as fuel." Barrett is acutely aware of the potential for the English crowd to become a source of energy for their team if the All Blacks falter.
Barrett continued, “Looking back at the past few games we’ve had against England and it’s been within a one score game so if history is anything to go by it’s going to be a heck of a Test match and we’ve certainly got some scars from the English going back to the 2019 World Cup. Certainly we don’t want to go there again." He emphasized the lessons learned from that painful defeat.
“Every All Blacks wants to win a World Cup - that’s the dream - so to have the rug pulled from underneath you by England, it certainly leaves a scar. For us it’s about taking the strengths we’ve built upon this season, and built upon, playing with confidence and putting in the performance tomorrow night we’re proud of.”
So, the stage is set for a momentous clash. Will England seize their opportunity and create history? Or will the All Blacks silence the Twickenham roar and avenge their past defeats? What do you think England needs to do to secure victory? Do you agree with the assessment that England are rightly the favorites? And what impact, if any, will the memory of the 2019 World Cup have on the game? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
