NPR

Captain Jamie George warned that New Zealand will quickly learn who England are after All Blacks winger Sevu Reece admitted that he did not “really know much about them” heading into the first test in Dunedin.

This is England’s first tour of New Zealand since 2014, when lock Brodie Retallick failed to name a single member of the travelling squad. There appears to be no greater level of awareness among the current All Blacks squad with Reece unable to identify the England wings Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso who he will be facing on Saturday.

“I don’t really know much about them (the England wings),” Reece said. “We have just been trying to be familiar with the way we want to play. We have seen them carry on from their World Cup and they go to their high balls a lot and we are ready for that. We have prepped really well.”

By contrast, England head coach Steve Borthwick has set all members of his squad homework assignments on the All Blacks, who have named Stephen Perofeta rather than the experienced Beauden Barrett at full-back.

George has faced New Zealand on six previous occasions and says the only way to earn the All Blacks’ respect is to beat them. “I’m not in their camp, I don’t know whether there is any mind games in what they are saying,” George said. “I know that that was certainly said in 2017 on the Lions tour. The message then was by the end of that series they are certainly going to know who we are. That is certainly the message again from me and this England team.

“We are a team that always wants to know our opposition. We want to know them inside out because we want to be able to pick them apart. That’s ultimately how we see the game. If they see the game differently and they want to focus on themselves, that’s great. Go and do your thing, we’ll see who works out best on Saturday.”

George’s record against New Zealand, including tests for the Lions, is won two, drawn two and lost two. With England bidding to secure only their third ever away victory against the All Blacks, George says that history is within their grasp as long as they start the game decisively.

“We can’t sit back and wait because if we do that, we’ll be behind our poles 20 points down trying to create some sort of comeback like we did in 2022 (which England drew),” George said. “We come to New Zealand to play our way, to take New Zealand on. We’ve come to New Zealand to win, so we’ll know whether we’re there on not within the first few minutes after kick-off.

“Walk towards it, embrace it, love it. What an amazing opportunity we have got here. It was 2003 the last time England won here. I said to the boys like we’ve got an opportunity to do something really special so that in 20 years’ time when we are sat at one of those dinners not really wanting to be there, they are going to be asking us about the victory.”

England’s last victory over New Zealand came in the 2019 World Cup semifinal when they faced the haka in a ‘V’ formation. George and the senior leadership group will meet on Friday to decide on how to respond to the haka at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.


“We are still having conversations,” George said. “It’s the players’ decision. Steve has said that it is entirely on us what we decide to do but we will probably make a decision tomorrow. The most powerful thing for me (in 2019) was looking up at the big screen and seeing our captain smirking. I don’t think I can pull off the (Owen) Farrell smirk.

“I think the most important thing regardless of what you do to the haka and regardless of what happens before the game, the first 10 minutes of a test match sets the tone. What we did was that we put our necks on the line in terms of doing something different and challenging and then we backed it up. That’s going to be the most important thing regardless of what we do.”

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:46 am England, as usual, doing all the talking.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:39 am Surely he know about Itoje , Marler, George and 2019 WC.

TedMaul wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:39 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:46 am England, as usual, doing all the talking.

Awful isn't it. Being educated and having opinions.

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:41 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:39 am Surely he know about Itoje , Marler, George and 2019 WC.

It says he is referring specifically to the England wings

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:41 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:39 am Surely he know about Itoje , Marler, George and 2019 WC.

It says he is referring specifically to the England wings

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:37 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:41 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:39 am Surely he know about Itoje , Marler, George and 2019 WC.

It says he is referring specifically to the England wings

I imagine he was probably just trying to play a straight bat and avoid getting drawn into talking about who he'll be lining up against.

Freeman and Feyi-Waboso may be somewhat new to the international scene, but there's footage of them out there for both club and country, I'd be surprised if Reece and the rest of the All Black three quarter line hadn't watched a bunch of it.

Biffer wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 5:48 pm You kiwis haven’t played the much recently, have you? They’ve been a bit shit. New Zealand by 25.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:01 pm The All Blacks never bother with researching opposition teams and Razor is notorious for being badly prepared.

TedMaul wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:39 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:46 am England, as usual, doing all the talking.

Awful isn't it. Being educated and having opinions.

Flockwitt wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2024 7:10 pm Wooop! AB match day again! With Razor! Let's go Black!!!

STAT - The All Blacks team Razor has named to play England is the first time the All Blacks have had no Test debutants in their first test of the season for 35 years
Last having none in 1989.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2024 5:53 am England the favorites here. All Blacks will need to hit the field running.

ASMO wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2024 7:03 am NZ anthem duly murdered