Jamie George Admonishes Team Against Sit Back at All Blacks' Aura

England's skipper has warned that the team must avoid being intimidated by the All Blacks' legendary status if they aim to achieve their maiden Twickenham victory over the Kiwis in 13 years this weekend.

Squad Boost Before Crucial Clash

Steve Borthwick got a welcome lift with the versatile back returning to fitness and available for selection since suffering an arm fracture on Lions tour, while Freddie Steward and the wing featured in the expanded squad announced on Sunday night.

Current Form Differs with Past Struggles

England will welcome New Zealand after stretching their winning streak to nine games with a commanding 38-18 win over the Pacific Islanders, romping clear in the final quarter. Their current form stands in stark contrast from a year ago, when England endured multiple losses in seven matches, all by narrow margins. A trio of these losses came against the Kiwis—during the overseas tour and a 24-22 reverse at Twickenham after the fly-half missed two late kicks.

New Zealand narrowly edged out Scotland on Saturday to maintain hopes of a home nations grand slam alive, and while the Springboks cemented their number one ranking, the captain described the All Blacks as “perhaps the top team in the world.”

Of the last 11 encounters, the team's only victory over New Zealand came in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, and New Zealand have not been beaten in the recent clashes at Twickenham.

The Captain's Perspective on Facing the Kiwis

“What a lot of teams do is sit back in awe of the All Blacks with their history and all their incredible players,” stated the experienced hooker. “It’s tempting to do that. I have done it before. We’ve also got to be aware we’ll be playing at this venue. It’s an honour to be competing at home. We will do all we can to come out on top.

“You have to be at your peak. The All Blacks are without doubt the strongest team in the world right now. They’re an unbelievably fantastic squad and they seem to step up a gear when they visit this stadium. Our focus for us to do is identify where we might have improved in the first half last time. But also, have a clear strategy which can put them under as much stress as we possibly can. By doing so, we’ll give ourselves a chance.

“We came under a bit of heat 12 months ago for not coming out on the winning end of close contests and not figuring out how to win. Now, we’re doing the exact opposite. By no means have we solved everything. But we’ve put a big emphasis on the latter stages of games and finishing strongly. Scoring multiple tries in the last quarter of the match is a sign of a good team.”

The Coach's View and Squad Changes

Borthwick is likely to make a number of changes to his side, with skipper the lock, the flanker, and Ford all set to be reinstated to the starting lineup. The wing and the newcomer each took knocks against the Islanders but both have been included in the squad preparing to take on New Zealand.

“We aim to challenge ourselves against the best teams and [New Zealand] are one of those best teams,” said Borthwick. “We’re a young side, we’re evolving, I think we’re growing rapidly and we’re eager to learn. So I’m sure the upcoming going to be a valuable assessment for us.”

Earl's Reflection on Progress

The number eight, in addition, believes that the team's current ability to break away in the dying minutes of games owes much to their triple close losses by the All Blacks last year. “You feel seasoned, as if you’ve got the wounds, you’ve got the scar tissue to learn from those setbacks, and they stung at the time,” remarked Earl, who was awarded player of the game against the Fijians. “But I question among the squad in the changing room, if we’d alter our path now, with the success that we’re now enjoying? I’d be interested to know because I think they’re extremely priceless lessons.”