England's rugby stars stand on the brink of history as they prepare to host New Zealand at Twickenham this Saturday, chasing their first home victory against the All Blacks in over a decade.
The Weight of History
England have only defeated New Zealand eight times in their 120-year rivalry, with their last Twickenham triumph dating back to 2012. The upcoming match marks the 47th meeting between these rugby giants, and Steve Borthwick's squad understands the magnitude of the opportunity before them.
Fly-half George Ford revealed how hooker Jamie George has been driving the motivational message within the camp. "Jamie mentioned something to the team earlier," Ford shared. "I think the last time England beat New Zealand at Twickenham was 2012. And people still go on about 2012."
Leadership Driving Change
The former captain flipped the narrative to inspire his teammates, asking: "Why can't we be the next team that, in 2025, they talk about?" This powerful question has become a rallying cry for England, who currently enjoy a nine-match winning streak but have lost their last three Tests against the All Blacks.
England's men haven't beaten New Zealand since their famous 2019 World Cup semi-final victory, and the statistics paint a challenging picture. Since 2012, New Zealand have won four of the five Twickenham encounters, with the 2022 match ending in a dramatic draw.
Learning from Past Battles
Ford, who experienced the agony of missing two late chances to secure victory against the All Blacks last year, emphasised the need for aggressive tactics. "There is a belief, 100%, you can feel that in the week," he stated. "You've got to go at a team like this in every area of the game."
The fly-half outlined England's comprehensive approach: "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."
Six members of England's current squad featured in that memorable 2019 World Cup semi-final, providing valuable experience of what it takes to overcome the All Blacks at the highest level.
The Haka Question
While England have created memorable moments facing the haka in recent years - from the V-formation in 2019 to advancing to the halfway line last year - tighthead prop Joe Heyes indicated there might be no special plans this time. "I don't think so, no," he responded when asked about countering the traditional challenge.
Heyes instead pointed to the power of home support, saying: "Let's hope our rugby [gets the crowd going]. When our backs are against the wall or we're going well, the crowd here really does rev you up."
As England prepare for this historic encounter, the opportunity to become only the ninth English side ever to defeat New Zealand provides all the motivation needed. With history waiting to be written and a 13-year home drought to end, Saturday's clash represents more than just another match - it's a chance for this England team to cement their place in rugby folklore.
