Preview: New Zealand v England
Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:55
Battle hardened warriors: Rodney So\'oialo and John Schwalger
The World Cup flops against the World Cup gatecrashers. New Zealand, who can't seem to rid themselves of the World Cup monkey, face England, a team of no-hopers and plodders who managed to reach the Final in France against all odds.
It is against this background that both countries, with vastly changed line-ups from last year, head to Eden Park in Auckland for this week's headliner.
A large majority of New Zealand's rugby population have not forgiven Henry for another World Cup flop and the only way to atone for the mistakes of last year is to smash visitors in emphatic fashion.
Last week's rain-drenched win over Ireland only showed some of the All Blacks' resolve, not their full array of skills and ability. The conditions this week will favour their more expansive game and while night games in winter will always have some "dampness" factored in, it will not be the same monsoon type weather they encountered last week.
England, not know for their ability to play free-flowing rugby, has promised to be more expansive ... even with Charlie Hodgson at flyhalf.
However, it is hard to see them playing a high-paced game they are not accustomed to. It will be the same bash and grab, high kick and charge tactics that got them to the World Cup Final and second place in the Six Nations this year.
With that in mind, the focus will be on the forward battle at Eden Park.
Regardless of what type of game you plan to play, you first have to get the ball and with this game being played under the old laws - as opposed to the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) that governed the Super 14 - the set pieces will be key.
Much has been made this week of the scrum battle, with Greg Somerville pitted against Andrew Sheridan. It has made for great headlines and consumable copy, but the real battle will be how the Kiwi tight five cope with the much vaunted England pack.
New Zealanders pride the themselves on their set pieces. They are not brutal, just very skillful in doing the technical things right.
They don't try and kill you in every scrum, or contest every line-out. They target key times of the game to attack the set pieces and secure crucial turnovers.
England in turn are brutes, powerhouses like Sheridan who try to outmuscle you at every opportunity.
New Zealand forwards coach Steve Hansen remains quietly confident that his charges are in the right shape ahead of Saturday's first big test.
"Last week's game [against Ireland], from a forwards point of view, was just ideal," Hansen told the New Zealand media this week.
"We got 80 minutes of really good work - lots of line-outs, lots of scrums, lots of close quarter stuff, which the majority of time in New Zealand games you don't get," he said.
"It was really good, it helped us come together, because the England pack will be a good pack, we know that, it always has been.
"[Steve] Borthwick's a big thinker of the game, he's very strong in his line-out work and he likes to dominate in that area and [Andy] Sheridan is held in high regard by everyone over in the United Kingdom.
"Matt Stevens is a very good prop as well at tighthead so they've got a good tight five that can come to the races and we've just got to come there and match them," he added.
No doubt this is going to be a classic Test of old-fashioned values.
There will be moments of brilliance, but by and large it will be a brutal battle where they will fight for every scrap. It will have its 'oohs and ahs', but mainly it will be enthralling face-to-face stuff.
Players to watch:
For New Zealand: No preview of a New Zealand game is complete without a mention of flyhalf Dan Carter, the world's premier No.10. But you could look for the counter attacking of Mils Muliaina, the brute strength of Ma'a Nonu, Richie McCaw at the breakdown (another player who gets a mention in any half-decent preview) and finally the determined raw muscle of Brad Thorn.
For England: The inclusion of Nigerian 'import' Topsy Ojo means the spotlight will be on him in his debut, Olly Barkley's skill at inside centre, Charlie Hodgson's judgment at flyhalf, Steve Borthwick's captaincy and combination with Tom Palmer in the second row.
Head to head: This one has to start with Greg Somerville (New Zealand) against Andrew Sheridan (England). This could be an epic battle, but also a key battle in the set-piece dominance. Scrums still play a vital role, even if the Aussies don't think so. Dan carter (New Zealand) against Charlie Hodgson (England) at flyhalf will be another key element of this game, as is most flyhalf battles. Finally, for the speed-freaks you can look at Sitiveni Sivivatu (New Zealand) against Topsy Ojo (England), if they see enough of the ball.
Last 10 results:
2006: New Zealand won 41-20, London
2005: New Zealand won 23-19, London
2004: New Zealand won 36-12, Auckland
2004: New Zealand won 36-3, Dunedin
2003: England won 15-13, Wellington
2002: New Zealand won 28-31, London
1999: New Zealand won 30-16, London
1998: New Zealand won 40-10, Auckland
1998: New Zealand won 64-22, Dunedin
1997: New Zealand and England drew 26-26, London
Prediction: We could go on all about how England showed true grit in the World Cup and Six Nations, to produce credible performances. But the reality is that Brian Ashton is gone, Martin Johnson is the new boss and Rob Andrew has taken charge of this trip. England will be underdone and New Zealand have a point to prove. Expect the Kiwis to win big, after a close-fought first half. New Zealand by 15 points or more.
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Rodney So'oialo, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Neemia Tialata.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Schwalger, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Tom Rees, 6 James Haskell, 5 Steve Borthwick (captain), 4 Tom Palmer, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Tim
Payne, 18 Ben Kay, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Danny Care, 21 Jamie Noon, 22 Mathew Tait.
Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.30 GMT)
Conditions: Predominantly clear, with a moderate wind. High 18°C, low 17°C
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Paul Marks (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
