England pumped up for chance to end 13-year wait against All Blacks
For better or worse it has been lashing down in south-west London,Good news for restocking the reservoirs but rather less so for dry-ball rugby,Had England played New Zealand 24 hours earlier it would have resembled a game of outdoor water polo and, although the matchday forecast is less biblical, a decidedly damp, grey afternoon awaits,Is it some kind of celestial clue that England’s on-field drought against the All Blacks might be about to break? It is now 13 years since the last men’s victory over New Zealand at what was once called Twickenham, so long ago that Maro Itoje was still at school,Troublemaker by Olly Murs (featuring Flo Rida) topped the UK charts and the nation was basking in a warm, fuzzy post-London Olympics glow that was supposed to last indefinitely.
Admittedly the convincing 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final win in Yokohama was a striking exception – it remains England’s most authoritative performance in the past 20 years – but otherwise the story has been one of recurring near misses.The All Blacks are never beaten until the scoreboard says so and only eight English teams have had first-hand experience of how good that feels.All of which adds extra meaning to this weekend’s eagerly awaited encounter.Not by accident have England won their past nine Tests but, even so, this will be the true measurement of their progress.Success will affirm and validate their rising confidence while defeat by the world’s second-highest ranked team has the capacity to do the opposite.
Listening to England’s players this week, though, has been to sense a mental corner has already been turned.While many of the same names still feature on the team sheet there is a clearer collective sense of direction these days, exemplified by George Ford’s assessment of why the team have started closing out the type of games that had previously slipped through their fingers.“When it does come to that last 20 minutes, we’ve found a way to win,” said the fly-half, picked ahead of Fin and Marcus Smith to be the team’s tactical heartbeat.“We’ve felt a lot calmer and more composed in those moments.That isn’t to say we’ve nailed it or cracked it because you’ve got to go and do it all over again.
But I think we can [now] have a bit of confidence if it does get to that stage,”The so-called “Pom Squad” off the bench have visibly helped and could easily make a difference again,Henry Pollock has been running around in training all week impersonating Ardie Savea while Tom Curry also brings a blast of fresh turbo thrust which, to Ford’s mind, will also be essential: “The moment you sit off or become a bit passive is the moment they could potentially get on top,”So far this recipe has worked a treat,In their previous two November games against Australia and Fiji, England have won the second half by an aggregate margin of 39-5.
There is clearly nothing wrong with their fitness but, given the potentially tricky conditions and New Zealand’s transition threats, an emphasis on accuracy in defence and attack will also be vital.The stand-in captain Dewi Lake believes Wales need to learn how to win again as they seek to end a miserable run of 10 straight home defeats stretching back more than two years when they take on Japan at the Principality on Saturday.Wales finally halted a sequence of 18 consecutive losses by beating Eddie Jones’s side in Kobe in July but lost 52-28 to Argentina in their opening match in the Autumn Nations Series last weekend.“I think for us, it’s about learning to win,” Lake told BBC Sport.“When you’re winning consistently, you’re never really worried about being behind in games, you don’t think about chasing games, you don’t try and do too much on your own, you just understand that your game model and what you do will eventually shine through and you’ll end up being there or thereabouts.
I think for us it’s about learning that,"We don’t mind where we win,We’d love to do it at home in front of the home crowd, for the fans, for everybody that’s supported us through a very difficult period, but it’s just about getting back to that point where you kind of feel unbeatable and any game you’re in, you feel like you know by the end you can win,It’s our job to give the stadium energy, to give the people something to cheer about,” Lake takes over the armband from Jac Morgan, who faces a lengthy spell out after dislocating his shoulder in scoring a try against Argentina.
Leicester’s Olly Cracknell comes into the starting lineup at No 8, with Alex Mann moving to openside flanker and Aaron Wainwright starting at blindside,Louis Rees-Zammit makes his first start for Wales since his return to rugby union following a spell in American football,PA MediaWith that in mind we can expect to see England’s players gathering regularly in huddles, the idea being to reiterate the importance of sticking to their processes even in times of extreme strife,“I suppose it’s about calming everyone down, giving the lads clarity on what we need to do next,” said Ford,“To make sure we come out the other side with plenty of intensity about us and then real clear direction.
I know that sounds quite a simple thing to do, but when you’re doing it three, four, five times a game, it’s hugely important.”As the 32-year-old Ford is fully aware himself, there was some room for improvement in that respect last year when his potentially match-clinching penalty hit a post and a last-gasp, hurried drop goal attempt – “If we look back, we probably went back about 15, 20 metres before we kicked the ball” – drifted wide.A perfect opportunity to avenge that frustrating 24-22 loss looms.“Let’s absolutely keep going at them,” he said.“Don’t get me wrong, they are a good team.
But what’s the point in stepping on the field at the weekend if we don’t believe we can go and win? Of course we do.”Sign up to The BreakdownThe latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewedafter newsletter promotionHis captain, Itoje, has been echoing that front-foot message, desperate to follow in the stud marks of the boys of 2012 who thundered their way to a 38-21 win under Stuart Lancaster, ending New Zealand’s 20-game unbeaten run.“Thirteen years later people are still remembering it,” said Itoje.“Manu Tuilagi was the most valuable player, Brad Barritt was amazing, the pack were great.You could see Twickenham was bouncing … it was one that continues to live long in the memory.
We want to be the ninth English side to do it.That’s the opportunity that’s there for us.In life you don’t get many of these opportunities so we want to go out there and take it.I think we’re capable of doing that.”It will partly hinge, of course, on exactly how much New Zealand still have in the tank after their close call at Murrayfield last Saturday.
The return of their captain, Scott Barrett, will help and Savea is never knowingly beaten.The truth of the matter, though, is that the All Blacks pack is going to have to step up physically if England’s aerial game and newfound ruthlessness in the last quarter is to be denied.There is also Sam Underhill’s tackling ability and a pumped-up crowd to be taken into account, with Itoje emphasising the psychological impact that home support can have on big days like this.“There is a real feeling of excitement as we get off the bus and walk to the stadium.“The looks on the fans’ faces are of genuine pride and, as players, we feel the responsibility to live up to that.
I would encourage the fans to be as proud and as noisy as they possibly can,”Even in the absence of any blue sky and sunshine, in summary, England are intent on creating a feelgood vibe,“Test match rugby is all about winning and finding a way to win,” said Ford,“It’s not always hunky dory or pretty,And that’s why it’s a Test, because sometimes you’ve got to work it out on the hoof.
” History would indicate a tight, tense contest but England finally possess the inner belief to rinse away past disappointments.
Felix Auger-Aliassime beats Alexander Zverev to reach ATP semi-finals – as it happened
The defending champion, Jannik Sinner, extended his winning streak at the ATP Finals with another victory over Ben Shelton. The Italian is yet to drop a set after three round-robin matches and his 6-3, 7-6 (3) win against Shelton made it 29 successes in a row on indoor hard courts.It was a familiar feeling for the American Shelton, who fell to 0-3 on his debut at the tournament having lost to Sinner for the eighth time in a row and fourth this year.“When you come here and win all three round-robin matches you have to play a very high level, some great tennis, which I’ve done,” said Sinner, who shrugged off the loss of a match point at 5-4 in the second set to dominate the tie-break, on Sky Sports.“I felt like serving, I’ve done very well in important moments, brought me to this point
England pumped up for chance to end 13-year wait against All Blacks
For better or worse it has been lashing down in south-west London. Good news for restocking the reservoirs but rather less so for dry-ball rugby. Had England played New Zealand 24 hours earlier it would have resembled a game of outdoor water polo and, although the matchday forecast is less biblical, a decidedly damp, grey afternoon awaits.Is it some kind of celestial clue that England’s on-field drought against the All Blacks might be about to break? It is now 13 years since the last men’s victory over New Zealand at what was once called Twickenham, so long ago that Maro Itoje was still at school. Troublemaker by Olly Murs (featuring Flo Rida) topped the UK charts and the nation was basking in a warm, fuzzy post-London Olympics glow that was supposed to last indefinitely
Sean Bowen looks real McCoy at Cheltenham in emulating legend’s never-say-die ride
On an afternoon for the National Hunt diehards here on Friday, as Storm Claudia battered racegoers and runners alike, one rider’s refusal to be cowed by either the elements or circumstance was a beacon in the gloom.There were distinct echoes of Tony McCoy’s famous never-say-die ride on Wichita Lineman as Sean Bowen niggled, coaxed and cajoled the novice chaser Wade Out around two circuits of Cheltenham, and it was only in the final moments of a race that took nearly seven minutes to run that Bowen’s mount appeared to have any realistic chance of winning.Wade Out was last of the four remaining runners heading out onto the final circuit, and from there he scarcely jumped a single fence with any fluency or speed. Several times, he appeared to be dropping away, only for Bowen to roust him back onto the coattails of his three rivals.His final flat spot came on the run down the hill, and this time, it seemed that it was surely all over for Wade Out, as One Big Bang and Isaac Des Obeaux were clearly going much better as they eased clear
Your Guardian sport weekend: ATP Finals, Albania v England and NFL
Will Magee kickstarts the football weekend with our unmissable gateway to all the action, with breaking news and updates. The Premier League takes a break for the international programme and he’ll be looking forward to some key fixtures – Greece v Scotland, Switzerland v Graham Potter’s Sweden, Liechtenstein v Wales – as well as developments from the England camp as they prepare to face Albania on Sunday. Why not join the conversation?Round nine in the Women’s Super League brings a Manchester derby. Four points separate the rivals, with City at the summit on 21 and United in third. Andrée Jeglertz’s City – with no midweek European fixture to tax their powers of recovery – are on the hottest of streaks and seeking an eighth straight win in the league
The Beta Blacks: Alpha days are gone for New Zealand and their aura with it
Thursday afternoon, and the All Blacks are out on the training ground around the back of the Lensbury hotel on the banks of the Thames, it’s a warm autumn day, and the mood is pretty free and easy. Will Jordan is practising catching high balls, Beauden Barrett is taking shots at goal, the forwards are packing up after running some drills, head coach, Scott Robertson, is chatting happily with the media before his press conference. Someone asks if his team are looking to make a statement against England on Saturday, the sort that reminds everyone exactly how good they are.“A statement performance?” Robertson says, perplexed. “We’re just looking for a result
Ill-advised Benn-Eubank Jr rematch another example of boxing’s cynicism
Boxing has always been a deeply cynical business. The overwhelming objective for most promoters, and many fighters, is to rake in as much money as quickly as possible without any undue concern about looking crass or desperate.Anyone who has spent just a little time in the company of boxers will understand that they deserve whatever cash they can make out of such a hard and dangerous activity. But promoters have ransacked the pockets of boxing fans through the decades while peddling anything and everything from Joe Louis’s “Bum of the Month” club to this week’s proposal that Anthony Joshua may make tens of millions of dollars if he steps into the ring to face Jake Paul, the former YouTuber, next month.Saturday night’s rematch between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr is a little different
‘I’m now a one-issue voter’: US shoppers fear Italian pasta tariff will cause shortage
Jimi Famurewa’s recipe for puff-puff pancakes
Polpa position: budget tinned tomatoes score well in Choice taste test
Three plant-based chocolate mousse recipes by Philip Khoury
Don’t pour that olive brine down the drain – it’s a flavour bomb | Waste not
Jelly’s back! Here are three worth making – and three that should wobble off to the bin