Jamie George Warns England Not To Sit Back In Awe At New Zealand’s Aura

Jamie George has warned that England must not beryllium seduced by nan All Blacks’ mystique if they are to clinch a first Twickenham triumph complete New Zealand successful 13 years connected Saturday.

Steve Borthwick has been boosted earlier nan toughest duty of England’s autumn run pinch nan return to fittingness of Elliot Daly, who could make his first quality since fracturing an limb connected British & Irish Lions duty, while Freddie Steward and Tom Roebuck were besides named successful Sunday night’s 37-man squad.

England will big nan All Blacks aft extending their winning run to 9 matches against Fiji, again romping clear successful nan last quarter, chalking up a 38-18 triumph complete nan Pacific Islanders. Their existent shape is successful stark opposition to 12 months agone erstwhile England were mired successful a tally of six defeats successful 7 matches, each by constrictive margins. Three of those losses were inflicted by New Zealand – 2 connected nan 2024 summertime circuit earlier a 24-22 reverse astatine Twickenham aft George Ford missed 2 precocious kicks astatine goal.

New Zealand edged retired Scotland connected Saturday to support hopes of a location nations expansive slam live and though nan Springboks cemented their spot astatine nan apical of nan rankings, George has heralded nan All Blacks arsenic “arguably nan champion broadside successful nan world”. Of nan past 11 meetings, England’s only triumph complete New Zealand came successful nan 2019 World Cup semi-final and nan All Blacks person not been beaten successful nan past 5 encounters astatine Twickenham.

“What a batch of teams do is beryllium backmost successful awe of nan All Blacks pinch their history and each their unthinkable players,” said erstwhile skipper George. “It’s easy to do that. I’ve astir apt done it successful nan past. We’ve besides sewage to beryllium alert we’ll beryllium backmost present astatine Allianz Stadium. We’re very proud to beryllium playing here. We are going to do everything we tin to triumph that game.

“You person to beryllium astatine your best. New Zealand are arguably nan champion broadside successful nan world astatine nan minute. They’re an unbelievably awesome squad and they look to measurement up a cogwheel erstwhile they travel to Allianz Stadium. The important point for america to do is activity retired wherever we could person been amended successful nan first half this week. But besides person a clear gameplan which tin put them nether arsenic overmuch unit arsenic we perchance can. If we do that, we’ll springiness ourselves a chance.

“We came nether a spot of power 12 months agone for not coming retired connected nan correct broadside of tight games and not uncovering a measurement to win. Now, we’re doing nan nonstop opposite. By nary intends person we cracked it. But we’ve placed a large accent connected nan second stages of games and closing games out. Scoring nevertheless galore tries successful nan past 4th of that crippled is simply a motion of a bully team.”

Borthwick is again expected to make a number of changes to his broadside pinch nan skipper Maro Itoje, Tom Curry and Ford each expected to return to nan starting lineup. Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso were some successful nan wars against Fiji but some person been selected successful nan squad preparing to look nan All Blacks.

“We want to situation ourselves against nan champion teams and [New Zealand] are 1 of those champion teams,” said Borthwick. “We’re a young side, we’re developing, I deliberation we’re increasing quickly and we’re keen to learn. So I’m judge adjacent week’s going to beryllium a awesome appraisal for us.”

Ben Earl, meanwhile, believes England’s existent expertise to propulsion clear successful nan closing stages of matches owes overmuch to their 3 constrictive defeats by New Zealand past year. “You consciousness battle-hardened, you consciousness for illustration you’ve sewage nan wounds, you’ve sewage nan scar insubstantial to study from those losses, and they wounded astatine nan time,” said Earl, who was named man of nan lucifer against Fiji. But I wonderment to a man successful nan changing room, would we person changed our travel now, pinch nan joyousness that we’re sometimes enjoying now? I’d beryllium willing to cognize because I deliberation they’re very, very valuable lessons.”