Whatever else they have planned, England’s ideal response to the Haka should be to stare it down, then beat the All Blacks. Simple. Well, not really, but that’s the only retort that matters.
So much of the build-up to a thunderous showdown has been about what will take place before kick-off, but New Zealand’s traditional challenge and how the hosts face it will not dictate the outcome. And for Steve Borthwick, there is so much onus on the outcome. The stakes are especially high going into this Autumn Nations Series opener at Twickenham.
After a week when the biggest statements have been made by a player not currently in the England camp, the time has come for an almighty statement by the men on duty. Joe Marler’s social media comments have created heightened pre-match tension and anticipation, now it is up to Jamie George and Co to withstand whatever backlash awaits from antagonised rivals.
The unavoidable elephant in the room – or the stadium – is that England as yet lack sufficient return on so much evident potential. Borthwick’s regime urgently needs another scalp to justify the praise for an overhaul process which has made his team multi-dimensional and fun to watch.
A narrow win over world No 1-ranked Ireland in March remains the only seismic result of the head coach’s tenure. So far in 2024, England have played eight Tests and won four; against Italy, Wales, the Irish and Japan, with losses against Scotland, France and the All Blacks – twice. They have not turned the sport’s hierarchy upside-down, yet.
Captain Jamie George and his England side will have to be braced for a New Zealand backlash
The absent Joe Marler’s social media comments have created heightened pre-match tension
There is more at stake for England against New Zealand than their response to the Haka
A difficult campaign is in prospect if this first outing goes against the home side, given that the mighty Springboks are on their way to south west London in a fortnight. That clash with the world champions is the one game where England will be regarded as the clear outsiders.
So, they need this one. A two-from-four return in November would not be enough to validate all the sterling work behind the scenes and banish the suspicion that summer management upheaval has had a damaging impact. The shock defection of first Aled Walters and then Felix Jones – who is serving his notice period from afar – created untimely disruption for Borthwick, which has still not been fully resolved.
Both teams could attempt to beat the other at their own game in this third successive encounter. For all the focus on recent tactical expansion, England need their pack to front up against a side who have added giant prop Tamaiti Williams to an already potent front-row mix.
Expertly overseen by forwards coach Jason Ryan, the All Blacks gained a significant set-piece edge during the matches in New Zealand back in July and Borthwick flew home with grave concerns about a lack of clout at tighthead. However, he has the same starter there today – Will Stuart. It is a big day for the Bath No 3, who is not always first-choice for his club. Dan Cole remains in reserve at the age of 37, but a positional succession plan needs to take shape soon.
Ellis Genge is back in the England XV a month after being shoved around and given a cheeky send-off by Gloucester’s rookie prop sensation, Afolabi Fasogbon. Genge’s gracious reaction to that episode was a credit to him, but the vice-captain will want to deliver a very different response if the opposition believe he is there for the taking.
Head coach Steve Borthwick needs another scalp to justify the praise for an overhaul process
Ellis Genge is back a month after being shoved around by Gloucester’s prop Afolabi Fasogbon
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson pointedly noted the scrum is one of their strengths
Tamaiti Williams has been added to the front row, with the All Blacks set to steam into England
It goes without saying that New Zealand will target this crucial area. Asked if that is the plan, head coach Scott Robertson grinned and said pointedly: ‘The scrum is one of our strengths. We like to use it positively.’ His starting props – Williams and Tyrel Lomax – have a combined weight of 42.5 stone, compared to England’s 38.25. They will present a monstrous barrier to English ambitions.
Everyone thinks that New Zealand just play razzle-dazzle rugby, which is not the case. With the experienced Beauden Barrett restored to the No 10 shirt, they will adapt to a northern autumn but also have innate steel.
This is a team led by Beauden’s aggressive brother, Scott; the only All Black to have received two red cards in Test rugby. He likes to dish it out and is not the only one. The visitors will steam into England up front. In 2017, before the first Lions Test, all the talk had been about the Kiwis’ threat out wide, but instead they beat up the tourists with a route-one onslaught.
England have tooled up for a physical confrontation with a 6-2 bench split. They know that what’s coming won’t just be pace and pretty patterns. Both teams will be braced for early ferocity but also seeking to cure a tendency to fall away in the last half-hour.
New Zealand have Damian McKenzie and electric scrum-half Cam Roigard among their back-up cast on the bench to create a fresh spark if needed, while England have Harry Randall and George Ford, who could take over the conductor’s baton, with Marcus Smith switched to full-back. But Ford is short of recent game-time and he’s not the only England player in that category, with Henry Slade starting despite just 54 minutes of competitive action since shoulder surgery in the summer.
If the highly-valued Exeter centre can’t take the strain, Borthwick has a problem on his hands after a risky selection. That would be another unfortunate twist, following Ollie Chessum’s withdrawal due to a knee injury, which messed up the pack plans.
Electric scrum-half Cam Roigard is among the back-up cast on New Zealand’s bench
George Ford, left, and Henry Slade are among the England players lacking in game time
There are more questions and doubts. Can Chandler Cunningham-South deliver the rampaging form of last season, after a slow start to the new campaign with Harlequins? England will need him to be the force of nature who made such an impression in the land of his birth four months ago.
Will Joe El-Abd be able to seamlessly replace Felix Jones and unleash a similarly threatening English blitz? Will Ben Spencer mark his deserved first Test start by translating his imperious club form and hit the tempo target set by his coaches?
The current World Rugby rankings have NZ third and England fifth. That is a fair reflection of the balance of power. The bookies have the All Blacks as favourites, which is justified – just about. But at home, England will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds, if they can live up to their proud forward heritage, to quell the Kiwis’ power play.
The heart says England by three, the head says the opposite. Whatever way it goes, it should be a pulsating occasion and a close contest.
