England vs. New Zealand - The First Test

11,340 miles away men wearing white shirts with a red rose on them are about to embark on one of the toughest tours of their International careers. The All Blacks have led the way for years and they don't plan on relinquishing their stranglehold on world rugby any time soon, however this Summer with a home Rugby World Cup fast approaching England need to disrupt their Southern Hemisphere rivals and continue on their own coming of age journey.

Let's not beat around the bush here... the All Blacks are brilliant, their fitness, skill set and all around rugby prowess often leaves you open mouthed and silent in awe. In front of a home crowd they are expected to win and they are expected to demolish their opponents without a second glance. Under the reign of Steve Hanson they have managed to bring through some exciting talents without disrupting their momentum, with Dan Carter still on sabbatical starting Aaron Cruden is a given and no longer something that AB fans worry about.

Brode Retallick's shambolic first press conference was well documented this week... for those of you who missed it Brode couldn't name a single England players' name! Could it be that Brode thinks England just aren't important enough to know their names? Who knows? What I do know is that's.  it will certainly add a little spice to Saturday's fixture...  I can't wait for every squad member to personally introduce themselves to Brode in their own 'special way'!!!

The man that has pushed the side forward from the back row has been Kieran Reid, Reid eptiomises Kiwi rugby he is hard working, hard as nails and a phenomenal athlete, however on Saturday his side must do without him as he has suffered a reoccurrence of  his concussion symptoms that have kept him sidelined since April. Julian Savea also misses out due to a knee injury, Cory Jane and Jerome Kaino take their places, Kaino after a two-and-a-half-year absence from the set up... both must step up and fill the large shoes they are substituting for. Hanson's starting XV boasts 779 caps, almost every man has been there and done it all before, none more so than captain Richie McCaw who will receive his 124th cap!

England are not expected to win this first test, the 'seamless scheduling' means that Stuart's side isn't filled with his first choice players however personally I'm not completely writing them off. By now I'm sure that you all realise that I am an optimist, although not I hope that you also realise that I am not unrealistically so. My thought process with regard to not fully writing England off goes something like this; first, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a player with five starts can be just as influential as one with fifty, being totally and utterly written off by most can have it's merits, just ask the 2012 side that ran out at Twickenham against McCaw's men. Second, this England XV has a point to prove, certain individuals more than others and that desire can produce rugby of a level that we haven't seen before. Yes, there are other men waiting in the wings however this XV know that if they deliver, collectively, then individually they may just secure that test jersey for another week. Reviewing the team selection that was announced late last night, I'm surprised to see Freddie Burns starting at 10, we all watched Freddie's nightmare domestic season unfold and is the question lingering is this; is International brilliance possible off the back of such a fragmented and frustrating time!? In an early press conference Stuart did say that fly half would be picked on form and that what panned out on the training field would heavily influence his decision, so let's hope that Freddie is flying! Kyle Eastmond starts at inside centre, I'd really like to see him open up and flourish with the support of a certain wrecking ball he must realise his full potential for 80 minutes. The news today that Danny Care is not fit to play the match due a shoulder injury does sway things further in the All Blacks favour. Ben Youngs starts and Lee Dickson moves onto the bench, both must step their games up another notch or three...! It can be done however the loss of Care could be pivotal. 

Crucially England must not be intimidated, Stuart Lancaster's side must erase any thoughts that they might not be good enough and instead run out of the tunnel confident in the knowledge that they have what it takes beat the competition. England must start well, they must stifle the threats of Dagg, Jane and Nonu early on, deal with the brutality of McCaw and his reliable pack and then flourish in their own game. The experience of Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw and James Haskell and the physicality of Manu Tuilagi all critical elements in a game plan that will be focused on defensive brutality and blistering attacking intent. This weekend England have an almighty task on their hands, they are the underdogs and no-one is expecting them to win. The question is will they surprise us all and produce something majestic or will they fall short? Today, a couple of days before the big event we hope for the former and expect the latter... England it is over to you, show us what you are made of. 


England: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Manu Tuilagi, (Leicester Tigers), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester); Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester) Replacements: Joe Gray (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Dave Attwood (Bath), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester)

New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa

KO 8.35am Saturday - Sky Sports 1