A gruelling schedule had been organised by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in New Zealand and Australia. England returned after little more than a fortnight battered, bruised and beaten in five of their six matches.
England have seldom found Aotearoa to their liking on their returns to the Shaky Isles since. Their infrequent visits to New Zealand have been cloaked in a long white cloud of English defeats and off-field bother. It is 20 years since the All Blacks were last beaten by England on home soil, and it was a 30-year winning run for the hosts before that. That the teams contest a prize named after Sir Edmund Hillary feels appropriate.
“It doesn’t get more challenging than playing New Zealand at home, but it’s exactly where we want to be,” England head coach Steve Borthwick said ahead of the first of a two-Test series that begins in Dunedin tomorrow.
“We want to find out more about ourselves and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world. Test rugby is a game of fine margins, so our mindset is going to be very important on Saturday. We’ll need to be mentally strong, play a tactically smart game and ensure we maintain our discipline.”
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin July 05, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin July 05, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The six-year process leading to perfect England penalties
England beat Switzerland on penalties in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal thanks to a changed approach that involved rethinking every detail of a penalty shootout, right down to the steps that players take and where they should look.
Shaw return gives England options but also a headache
After 438 minutes of England's Euro 2024 campaign, the only specialist left-back in the squad finally made his entrance.
Emotional Hamilton takes thrilling British Grand Prix
To use a phrase synonymous with Formula One’s most successful driver, still he rises.
Sinner lays down powerful marker as Alcaraz labours
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz remain on course for a scintillating semi-final showdown at Wimbledon but the Italian will be happier with his work on the middle Sunday at SW19 as the pair moved just one step away from renewing a rivalry that could well define the next decade of men’s tennis.
Raducanu dazzled by Sun
British star could not quell aggressive New Zealand qualifier, as she becomes last home player to exit Wimbledon singles
'I take the darkest and most unfunny parts of my life and find all the humour in them'
Michelle de Swarte went from living in a women's shelter to becoming an international model. She chats to Ellie Harrison about moving to the States, running out of cash and turning to stand-up, as well as her new semi-autobiographic TV show
Do airlines have to replace your flight on the same day?
Q British Airways sent an email at 11.45pm on Friday night cancelling my mother’s Saturday flight from Malaga to Southampton. The replacement flight they offered was today via Dublin. I’m sure you say airlines are duty-bound to fly people on the same day?
The futuristic US city being planned by tech billionaires
Real estate corporation California Forever has a bold vision to create San Francisco 2.0 but can the developers convince sceptical voters to see the light? Josh Marcus investigates
Israeli strike on Gaza school kills 16 and injures dozens
Hamas denies claim the area was being used to hide militants
Renting gets even harder, as landlords seek to ban WFH
Landlords have come under fire for banning prospective tenants from working from home, resulting in calls for new legislation to protect renters.
