The problem dealing with England at Eden Park on Saturday is formidable to say the least.
New Zealand haven’t misplaced on the Auckland venue since 1994, profitable 48 of their matches in that point and drawing twice.
Steve Borthwick’s males must break the course of historical past to seal a well-known victory. However as they search inspiration forward of their second Check, England might do loads worse than take a look at the efficiency of the final nationwide aspect to have performed on the floor synonymous with All Black rugby. It has been 10 years since a Purple Rose staff took to the Eden Park stage.
In 2014, a weakened England XV coached by Stuart Lancaster met the then world champions New Zealand and got subsequent to no probability of success.
They almost proved their doubters incorrect, producing a efficiency for the ages earlier than falling simply brief to lose 20-15 after a late attempt from house centre Conrad Smith.
Steve Borthwick’s England face a frightening process as they put together to tackle New Zealand
Chris Robshaw captained England as they got here near beating New Zealand in 2014
‘We have been gutted. To come back so shut meant it was irritating. That recreation was 10 years in the past now and also you don’t get many alternatives like that in your profession,’ Chris Robshaw, who captained England that June day a decade in the past, instructed MailSport.
‘We have been going up towards among the best sides on this planet who had simply gained a World Cup after which went on to win one other one so it was at all times going to be robust.
‘However we noticed it as a great alternative. It excited us to be up towards Richie McCaw and Co.
‘It was a who’s who of New Zealand rugby. To face the haka at Eden Park in that environment and towards a aspect like that was an incredible expertise.
‘It’s a reminiscence I look again on with fondness though the outcome went the opposite method. It’s a particular place to play. There’s a pleasant document there you wish to go and break and that additionally places numerous stress on the New Zealand aspect. They don’t wish to be the staff to lose.
‘If you can begin nicely and shock them a little bit bit, there’s each probability for positive.’
England’s class of 2024 misplaced their first Check with the All Blacks by only a level in Dunedin. The 16-15 defeat was a recreation they need to have gained. However they are going to nonetheless run out at Eden Park with many believing they’ll break New Zealand’s document unbeaten streak. That wasn’t the case in 2014.
New Zealand went into that recreation 10 years in the past as 1/16 favourites with the bookmakers as England weren’t solely hit onerous by harm, but additionally hindered by a scheduling mishap.
Though England have been narrowly crushed in 2014 they might be happy with their efficiency
Freddie Burns began for England at No 10 in 2014 and kicked 4 penalties
The 2014 Premiership ultimate at Twickenham solely occurred every week earlier than the Eden Park recreation. It meant that the gamers from league winners Northampton Saints and Saracens weren’t thought-about to tackle the All Blacks as a result of they solely arrived within the southern hemisphere a couple of days earlier than the Check.
With Owen Farrell, then of Saracens, and Northampton’s Stephen Myler unavailable and George Ford not on the tour as a consequence of a shoulder harm, Freddie Burns began for England at No 10.
Burns kicked 4 penalties in a decent recreation that was locked at 9-9 till the sixty fourth minute, earlier than Smith and New Zealand made England pay for a yellow card to Marland Yarde.
‘I bear in mind it nicely,’ stated Burns, taking a visit down reminiscence lane. ‘We got no probability as a result of the Saracens and Northampton gamers from that yr’s Premiership ultimate weren’t concerned.
‘We noticed it as a little bit of a shot to nothing. I bear in mind Chris made a break by the center within the first minute and that basically set the tone for us. It made us assume “S***, they’re not unbeatable right here.” Smith scored within the nook with about 5 minutes to go, however it was a superb recreation to be part of and it’s one I look again on and never kick myself, however assume “What if?”
‘We got here so near attaining one thing that not many groups have accomplished. With the All Blacks I don’t assume it issues the place you play them as a result of it’s at all times going to be an enormous recreation.
‘If something all of the historical past round Eden Park is extra of a stress on them than it’s on the opposition staff. We didn’t actually speak about that.
‘We talked about alternative as a result of for the group that performed that 2014 recreation, we had an opportunity to make an announcement. It was a superb probability for us at such an historic floor towards among the best groups on this planet to go on the market and have a crack.
Burns admits that he has some frustration that he solely managed to get 5 caps for England
Robshaw has been impressed by the impression that Chandler Cunningham-South has made
‘After I look again on my England profession, I’ve a little bit little bit of frustration at solely getting 5 caps and typically assume perhaps I believe I underachieved a bit.
‘However I additionally performed in a time of nice fly-halves in a aggressive place. My 5 caps all got here towards prime opposition and three of them have been towards New Zealand.
‘To be sincere, I in all probability ought to have retired after we beat the All Blacks on my debut in 2012! One and accomplished! However New Zealand is such a fantastic place to play rugby.
‘Issues are simply completely different down there. In 2012 we beat the All Blacks at Twickenham and once we confronted the haka, we had 80,000 folks singing Swing Low to drown it out. If you face the haka in New Zealand, it’s completely completely different – nearly deathly quiet. Stuff like that makes it an unbelievable place to play.
‘I used to be very fortunate to play towards New Zealand in New Zealand for England. It was an unbelievable expertise however while you’re in it, you perhaps take it with no consideration. I do know I’m nonetheless taking part in however now I’m within the tail finish of my profession, I realise what an unbelievable achievement it was for me to be in an England squad in New Zealand and to play at Eden Park.
‘Jeez, that was a fantastic efficiency from the staff. Even when we’d obtained a draw it could have been a fantastic achievement. If solely we’d simply held on.
‘However they scored on the dying and that’s what the All Blacks do.’
New Zealand had an all-star aspect in 2014, one which historical past now tells us was ok to win back-to-back World Cups. England’s staff 10 years in the past in the meantime contained the likes of Burns, Kyle Eastmond, Rob Webber and David Wilson. They nonetheless got here so near a well-known win.
Burns was stuffed with reward for Borthwick, describing him as the perfect coach he has performed below
England’s Manu Tuilagi is surrounded by New Zealand gamers in the course of the 2014 conflict
Borthwick’s present crop is far stronger and will likely be hoping to stage the 2024 collection at 1-1.
‘I believe England have a fantastic alternative this weekend,’ Robshaw stated.
‘They got here so shut final week. New Zealand simply know find out how to squeeze groups and put stress on on the proper time. That’s what occurred to us in 2014. There’s little question this England aspect is admittedly constructing. It’s actually thrilling with the velocity they’re taking part in at.
‘They’ve positively began to make folks actually respect them and sit up and take discover with their performances within the final 4 video games.
‘They’ve obtained a superb age bracket. They do have some skilled guys, however there’s nice younger expertise coming by. Listening to soundbites from the blokes, they’re excited concerning the problem this weekend. Chandler Cunningham-South has been sensible for me. For such a younger participant, he’s a person already! England wanted one other massive service and he’s precisely that.
‘He’s a participant who would run by a brick wall.’
Burns added: ‘I stated a few weeks in the past England might do one thing particular and so they nearly did in Dunedin. They might do one thing actually historic this weekend.’
Burns was the drop purpose hero for Leicester in 2022 once they gained the Premiership with Borthwick as head coach. The fly-half, nonetheless taking part in in Japan, stated: ‘Steve is fingers down the perfect coach I’ve performed below in my profession and while you’ve had as many golf equipment as me, it means you’ve performed below fairly a couple of!
‘He’s sensible. Earlier than I signed at Leicester, he instructed me firstly he wished to make the Tigers tough to beat. That’s what he’s accomplished with England. I do know folks complained concerning the type of rugby to begin with and on the World Cup. However now what you might have is an England staff that’s tough to beat and which means they’ll now begin bettering their assault.
‘That’s what’s taking place now. There’s nonetheless numerous development to return from this England staff which is sensible.’
