England vs. All Blacks: Former players reveal the secret to beating New Zealand

The Challenge of Facing the All Blacks: Reflections and Strategies

Danny Care, when recalling his experiences playing against the All Blacks, evokes a feeling of bewilderment after the defeats. Despite having been part of England’s memorable victory over the All Blacks in 2012, it is the confusion after the defeats that most lingers in his memory.

You’re there, reviewing the match. At 75 minutes, you think: “We’re going to win”. And a few minutes later, you’ve lost by two tries and everyone is scratching their heads in the locker room, wondering why that happened.

Danny Care

A victory for England over the All Blacks is a momentous occasion for any generation. Of their 46 encounters in 120 years, England has won only eight. Their last triumph was in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final, a performance considered among the greatest since they defeated the All Blacks in Wellington in 2003. That victory foreshadowed their 2003 World Cup triumph, and they achieved it with 13 men at one point. England’s last victory at Twickenham was in 2012, a highly valued achievement. Jamie George, speaking after the victory over Fiji, commented on the reverence that many teams feel for the All Blacks and their history. Chris Ashton, who also experienced the 2012 victory, shares a similar perspective, highlighting the influence the All Blacks exert on the game and the importance of playing without fear.

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Eddie Jones, former England coach, who led the victory in the 2019 World Cup, highlights the importance of applying pressure on the weak points of the All Blacks. England’s first victory over the All Blacks was in 1936, and since then they have achieved significant victories on several occasions, including that of 2012.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup victory is a testament to England’s ability to overcome the dominance of the All Blacks. However, subsequent defeats have revealed similar patterns, with lamentations about a lack of precision and pressure on the scoreboard.

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In 2018, England was one point away from winning at home, but a try was disallowed. A year later, they achieved a historic victory in Yokohama. Joe Marler, after that victory, mentioned the need to eliminate the myth of the All Blacks’ invincibility. England’s preparation for that match included the arrow formation to respond to the All Blacks’ haka.

Jones’ advice to beat the All Blacks is clear: attack first, with force, and don’t be intimidated by their aura. Borthwick’s team is on a run of nine consecutive victories, and beating the All Blacks would make them an elite team. The history between England and the All Blacks is full of challenges and opportunities. To succeed, it is necessary to ignore their history and focus on the fundamentals of rugby.