England's rugby stars stand on the brink of sporting immortality as they prepare to host New Zealand at Twickenham, chasing their first home victory against the All Blacks in over a decade.
History Beckons for Borthwick's Men
Steve Borthwick's squad enters Saturday's clash as marginal favourites, aiming to become only the ninth English team in 120 years of competition to conquer the mighty All Blacks. The significance isn't lost on the players, with former captain Jamie George delivering an impassioned call to arms that's resonated throughout the camp.
Fly-half George Ford revealed how George framed the opportunity, telling teammates: "Why can't we be the next team that, in 2025, they talk about?" The reference point is England's last Twickenham triumph against New Zealand in 2012, a match that remains fresh in rugby conversations thirteen years later.
The Weight of History
The statistics make sobering reading for England supporters. Of the 46 previous meetings between these rugby giants, England have emerged victorious on just eight occasions. Since that memorable 2012 victory, New Zealand have dominated proceedings at Twickenham, winning four of the five subsequent encounters with one match ending in a draw.
England's current nine-match winning streak provides cause for optimism, but the memory of last year's 24-22 defeat lingers, particularly for Ford who missed two late opportunities to secure victory. The fly-half acknowledges the challenge ahead, stating: "You've got to go at a team like this in every area of the game."
Building Belief and Confronting Tradition
Ford insists belief is growing within the squad, with six players remaining from England's famous 2019 World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand. That experience provides crucial foundation for what promises to be an intense physical and mental battle.
While England have made headlines in recent years with creative responses to the haka, prop Joe Heyes indicated there are no special plans this time. "Let's hope our rugby gets the crowd going," he said, emphasising that performance rather than ceremony will determine the outcome.
The Twickenham crowd could prove decisive, with Heyes acknowledging their importance: "When our backs are against the wall or we're going well, the crowd here really does rev you up." As England seek to end their thirteen-year wait for a home victory against rugby's most formidable opponents, the stage is set for another historic chapter in this storied rivalry.
