The All Blacks have won 13 of the 15 Tests in New Zealand between the two nations, with the only England Test successes coming in 1973 under John Pullin, and 2003 under Martin Johnson.
Watching England drubbings in Dunedin, or executions at Eden Park, has been an occupational hazard over the last 25 years – and it makes me cautious about Steve Borthwick’s touring side being able to buck the trend.
An overriding concern is that the basketball rugby that was once the preserve of Super Rugby has now been adopted by the Premiership clubs with such zeal that most defences are now poor.
Results in the last round of the Premiership last weekend, compared with those in Super Rugby told the story. While the top English league featured four matches out of five with winning margins of 40 to 54 points, in five out of six results in Super Rugby the winning margins were 26 to 34 points.
The three New Zealand teams in the top four in the Super Rugby table also have the best defensive records, while the All Blacks showed at the 2023 World Cup that their scramble defence is still among the best in the world. Given the open-door defences in the Premiership, New Zealand’s new coach Scott Robertson will be primed to cut up England at every opportunity – unless they make marked improvements by the start of July.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
