No England-All Blacks clash this year, says Jones

LONDON: A mouthwatering showdown between England and New Zealand will have to wait until 2018 after it was announced that the Barbarians will play the world champions All Blacks at Twickenham on Nov 4.

England coach Eddie Jones (pic) had confirmed reports in the British media indicating that the Rugby Football Union (RFU), were keen to squeeze in a match between his Six Nations champions and New Zealand on that date.

But the invitational Barbarians, in a match marking their 125th anniversary, have now received approval from the RFU, English rugby union’s governing body, to play the All Blacks on Nov 4.

“The Barbarians approached the RFU last month with a request to stage this fixture at Twickenham and the request has been granted, replacing a Barbarians-Australia match previously approved,” said a Barbarians statement.

England are now not scheduled to play New Zealand until November 2018, with an RFU spokeswoman telling reporters that Wednesday’s announcement meant there was no chance of the two countries meeting later this year.

Their last clash was back in 2014, when New Zealand won 24-21 at Twickenham.

Several England players are, however, likely to face the All Blacks as part of the British and Irish Lions squad heading to New Zealand for a three-Test series in June and July.

England equalled New Zealand’s record of 18 successive Test victories by a tier one or leading rugby union nation with victory over Scotland.

After that match, the Daily Mail reported that the RFU had approached their New Zealand counterparts about the prospect of a Nov 4 Test clash, although the paper highlighted tensions over how the gate receipts from a likely 82,000 sell-out crowd would be split.

England’s defeat of Scotland saw them retain their Six Nations title but their attempts to break New Zealand’s record and complete back- to- back Grand Slams foundered with a 13-9 loss to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

It was the Irish too who ended New Zealand’s run with a 40-29 win in Chicago in November.

Jones speaking after Saturday’s match in Dublin, the Australian’s first loss as England coach, said of the Lions’ prospects of a first series win in New Zealand since 1971 that the All Blacks were “there for the taking”.

England are already due to play Australia, Argentina and Samoa in November this year. — AFP