36 - 33

5 - 40

48 - 12

34 - 32

62 - 24

WOMENS

33 - 52

33 - 21

19 - 15

26 - 21

52 - 26

10 - 59

29 - 31

41 - 14

WOMENS

41 - 38

41 - 14

21 - 23

29 - 26

21 - 23

26 - 7

WOMENS

27 - 17

42 - 22

34 - 31

24 - 27

Friday

00:05

Friday

02:35

Friday

21:00

Saturday

00:05

Saturday

02:35

Saturday

07:00

Saturday

09:30

International

All Blacks 'arguably the best team in the world at the minute'

171 days ago

Press Association

Jamie George insists England must not fall into the trap of being dazzled by the All Blacks’ aura when the rivals clash in Saturday’s main event of the autumn.

Steve Borthwick’s men warmed up for their pursuit of a first victory over New Zealand at Allianz Stadium since 2012 and a 10th consecutive win against all opponents by toppling Fiji 38-18.

Elliot Daly comes into contention for selection after completing his recovery from the fractured forearm sustained on the British and Irish Lions tour, while Freddie Steward and Tom Roebuck could make their comebacks from respective hand and ankle issues.

Head coach Steve Borthwick names his team on Thursday and George warns that whoever is given the nod must avoid showing too much respect for New Zealand’s reputation.

“A lot of teams sit back in awe of the All Blacks and their incredible history and their incredible players,” the Saracens hooker said.

“It’s easy to do that and I’ve done that in the past. We’ve also got to be very aware that we’re back here at Allianz Stadium. We’re very proud of playing here and we are going to do everything we can to win.

“You’ve got to be at your best because they’re not just another team. They are arguably the best team in the world at the minute. They’ve got world-class players.

“They are as complete a team as there is out there. They’re fantastic and they seem to step up a gear when they come to Allianz Stadium.

“We’ve got to come up with a clear gameplan that’s going to put them under as much pressure as possible and then go out and execute it perfectly because that’s what we’ll need to do to win.”

England are rated marginal favourites by bookmakers to dispatch New Zealand for the first time since their stunning upset in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.

Victory would accelerate a pleasing turnaround from 2024 when final-quarter collapses resulted in seven successive losses to top-tier opposition.

Tom Curry, the all-action flanker who is likely to be restored to the starting back row, uses words from Manchester United great Roy Keane to highlight why the team must kick on in an autumn that has seen Australia and Fiji fall already.

“It was Roy Keane, who said ‘if you’re still, you’re going backwards’. We’re aiming to get better,” Curry said.

“We’re starting to learn to win. And it’s tiny margins, like Test match rugby is tiny margins.

“I suppose you have to go through those tough times to learn what it’s really like to learn to win.

“After this year’s Six Nations it felt like we had so much more to give and it just felt like we were getting better and better. That was a turning point.

“The lads over the summer carried that on and it feels like we’ve got some genuine momentum. But again, momentum is only good if you carry it on. You can’t sit still.

“We’re happy but we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s going to be an exciting challenge against New Zealand.”

LIVE

Comments

69 Comments

DH 169 days ago

From All Kiwis, no. the Boks are the best by a mile.

Dotplanet 170 days ago

as long as no one is being accused of stealing the world number 1 spot.

DP 170 days ago

I mean, you can’t even argue that his statement has been mis-interpreted or lost in translation. Odd. ABs need to spank England.

Jmann 170 days ago

balls - and I am a diehard ABs fan.

E O 170 days ago

Jamie George proving that you don’t need to be smart to play for England…🫣🤣

rs 170 days ago

As a Saffa one reads the comments up north with interest.

Which team is arguably the best will always be a debate. Just pleased that the Boks are enjoying such a good run these past few years.

Hopefully the All Blacks will bring England back down to earth with.

SunChaser 170 days ago

The most impressive part of the all blacks game at the moment is how they have improved their set piece. You can help but feel after that Scotland game they are there for the taking if England come out firing. Whoever wins the areal battle in the first 10 mins of each half with take the win.

d 170 days ago

It’s Gone! It’s Back! It’s There! It’s Not! This AB “aura” is obviously visible only to the gifted, like a registered swami or a British sports reporter.

Frans 170 days ago

I am not sure England will be able to live with the All Blacks this weekend. They have a 9 game unbeaten run, and have some good players coming through. However, the All Blacks is getting back to their best and is looking dangerous. They were very close to winning the Rugby Championship, and have already dispatched Ireland and Scotland in their ‘Grand Slam’ tour - I rate Ireland as still a better side than England at the moment. I may have to eat my words, but i cannot see England beating New Zealand.

GM 170 days ago

What a load of self-serving flannel from Jamie George - England must be hot favourites to hammer this young, beaten-up AB team, who are missing key personnel. It’ll be very deflating if England lose…

GrahamVF 170 days ago

Congratulating the colonials in advance :)

JW 170 days ago

“We’re starting to learn to win. And it’s tiny margins, like Test match rugby is tiny margins.

“I suppose you have to go through those tough times to learn what it’s really like to learn to win.

The English have always made it harder on themselves with these sorts of perspectives.

Tom, those tough times were you learning to win. Most learning is from failure. I must admit though, his idea that they weren’t learning because they hadn’t really learnt what learning was like until they were finally able to got over one and win, is quite original.

Has there been any indication of what the likely lineup and strategy is going to be? It’s like having to deal with the lack of hype to a Springbok game when it’s all a guessing game itself. At least he nips it in the butt by naming his team early.

FC 170 days ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

OK Jamie.

Good luck with the HIA.

Ninjin 170 days ago

Lip service and nothing more. Since when has anything English not believed that England are the best team in the world.

LE 170 days ago

Dont confuse the media with the fans, our position in the world rankings is very fair

JW 170 days ago

Their cricket team playing for the Ashes?

Highlander 171 days ago

This All Black side is full of kids many whom international fans would never have heard of a year ago, and with a cohesion score in the depths.

However once you mention aura you are halfway to getting beaten.

The starting XV vs Scotland had 489 test caps with Barret/Taylor and Savea accounting for 388 of those, according to AI. Starting caps would be even less.

Top 5 sides getting beaten by this transition team should be having a real hard look at themselves.

Andrew Nichols 171 days ago

Good grief. This is daft. Even AB fans dont believe this. SA are no 1.

JW 170 days ago

Depends which SA team is playing doesn’t it?

JR 171 days ago

Nothing will wipe away the belt marks the Boks gave us, unless the ABs can get the series win over in SA next year.

PickOllieMathisYeowRazorYouCoward 171 days ago

I’m picking England to win and win well.

Slow down the ruck ball and wait for beaudan to give up and kick it to you to have a go.

JW 170 days ago

With Steward? Or maybe his young look alike from their second team?

SC 171 days ago

Of course you do, lol.

You predict Razor to lose every test. Fortunately you are wrong 82% of the time in 2025.

SC 171 days ago

All Blacks vs England

1 DeGroot, 2 Taylor, 3 Newell, 4 S. Barrett, 5 Holland, 6 Parker, 7 Savea, 8 Lakai, 9 Roigard, 10 B. Barrett, 11 Carter, 12 Tupaea, 13 Fainga’anuka, 14 Jordan, 15 McKenzie

16 Taukeo’aho, 17 Williams, 18 Tosi, 19 Lord, 20 Sititi, 21 Kirifi, 22 Ratima, 23 Ioane

6-2 bench.

Jimmy 170 days ago

Will Carter be chosen after his brain fart???

JW 170 days ago

predicted or desired?

Weve seen him move Dmac to the starting team already due to injuries. Personally I’d bring Rieko or Proctor in at 13 depending on which English team was predicted.

You reckon Scooter will be back?

BleedRed&Black 171 days ago

1. English media type trying to expand England's achievement if they happen to win on Saturday. Just another broken record.

2. NZ are clearly next best team after SA, but still 10 points behind, all other things being equal.

3. Drivel. See above for reasons.

SC 171 days ago

Clearly that is not accurate.

Both teams are 9-2 this season.

Both teams went 4-2 in Rugby Championship.

Both teams have won and lost vs each other.

Both teams have one very embarrassing collapse while leading which led to a humiliating blow-out defeat at home (Springbok at Ellis Park to Wallabies and All Blacks at Wellington to Boks).

An objective, rational, non-emotive conclusion is that the Springboks and All Blacks are equal in 2025 and the Springboks sit at #1 because of a vastly superior 2024.

ck 171 days ago

What are joke they’re a bumbling mess

Ninjin 170 days ago

If Nz is a mess then what does it say about the rest ranked beneath them?

SC 171 days ago

But they still find away to win ugly as winners do.

DP 171 days ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 .

Michael K 171 days ago

If NZ were the best team in the world, we wouldn’t be ranked second or be underdogs against the fourth ranked team in the world.

JW 170 days ago

He said “arguably”.

I’m more surprised that England were favourites in the 2019 WC Semi personally. Good point though.

A S 171 days ago

Yet Ireland continually beats the Boks, who are ranked first. Every nation has a bogey team, your second point is moot.

W R 171 days ago

He should have said arguably one of the best. The Boks lose one game, and the AB's will be ranked one again, so then they would be the best team. I can't see how the AB's will lose against the English. It's possible I guess, but it won't be that easy.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

‘It is inevitable that new owners will bring new ideas that English rugby may not be comfortable with’

Exeter members must decide whether to accept an American buyout but there may be unease over where selling might lead them.

LONG READ

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto can be the Wallabies' heavyweight enforcer

With Will Skelton injured and Nick Frost running on fumes, the Reds second-row could provide Australia with much-needed snarl.

LONG READ

Dave Rennie's latest appointment could help New Zealand rein in Rassie's Springboks

Pressure is a privilege, and iconic mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka will remind New Zealand's players of just that as they gear up for the Rugby Championship.