Culture clash looms as England face All Blacks
We have natural athletes who want to run and carry the ball and pass the ball
Steve Hansen
london — “Styles make fights” is usually the talk of boxing promoters but it could prove true of England’s long-awaited clash against world champions New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.
England coach Eddie Jones has often insisted that trying to play the All Blacks at their own running from deep, passing game is a recipe for defeat, with the Australian championing the traditional Red Rose strengths of a powerful forward pack and solid set piece.
And All Blacks coach Steve Hansen accepted there was more than one way to win a game.
“Southern hemisphere rugby — there’s a lot of talk about Super Rugby, it’s very free-flowing with a lot of tries scored, but in this part of the world, maybe because the environment is different, the weather is different, there is a necessity to play a tighter game,” said Hansen.
“I’m certainly not bragging about it,” added the former Wales boss.
“We have natural athletes who want to run and carry the ball and pass the ball.” It was a trait England, then coached by Stuart Lancaster, showed in the last of just their seven wins over the All Blacks six years ago when, leading 12-0 at the break courtesy of four Owen Farrell penalties, they ran in three second-half tries through Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi in a 38-21 triumph.
Dashing wing Ashton is now set to make his first Test start in four years but the injury-prone Tuilagi’s long wait for an England recall has been delayed again by a groin problem. —