Fitzy delivers word of caution: England won’t roll over
Don’t write off England at Twickenham. That’s the grounding message from All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick.
Like all rugby enthusiasts, Fitzpatrick can’t wait to witness the All Blacks truly tested in England and Ireland.
But while most expect the All Blacks to swiftly bring Eddie Jones and England back down to earth following their controversial, valve-releasing 12-11 win over the weakened Springboks last week, Fitzpatrick is more cautious.
Based in London for 13 years now where he is heavily involved with the Harlequins club that shares a partnership agreement with New Zealand Rugby, Fitzpatrick is well placed to assess the challenge Eng- land pose on home soil, in front of 80,000 passionate souls.
Fitzpatrick had to wait six years after his test debut for a first crack at England in 1991, finishing his illustrious career with two wins, one loss, against the Red Rose.
“I wouldn’t underestimate them,” the former All Blacks captain, who played 92 tests between 1986 and 1997, warned. “Playing at Twickenham is not easy. It’s a hard place to win. You’re playing a side that’s under pressure and there’s a lot of young kids who have been given an opportunity.
“Jones has made it quite clear that he’s targeting the World Cup and this is a development phase but he’s got to win at least two, and maybe sneak another, for it to be a successful November, otherwise he’s going to come under extreme pressure. He knows that, the players know that.
“Eddie has been forced to make changes through injuries, and there may be players who could prove to be a huge success come World Cup 2019.”
Fitzpatrick was hugely impressed with the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship. He singled out their supreme fitness; described prop Karl Tu’inukuafe as a diamond, praised Ardie Savea’s rise and Richie Mo’unga’s influential cameo off the bench in the great Pretoria escape.
“Steve Hansen probably went into the Championship knowing 40 players he had for the World Cup and didn’t really expect to expand on that group. The beauty of what’s happened is he’s got another five or six who stuck their hand up. “I loved the rebirth of energy from South Africa that’s been lacking, unfortunately, for a number of years.”
The next two weeks would be the perfect preparation for the World Cup, revealing plenty about which All Blacks are ready to chase a third successive crown in Japan.
“The challenge is going to be backto-back; how they’re going to manage the players through England and then going to play the second best team in the world, which we’ve struggled with in current times.
“For me, that’s going to be really fascinating. It’s an opportunity to see what players have got the bottle for test rugby at the highest level.”
While in its infancy, the partnership between Quins and NZR could, therefore, benefit both parties when player exchanges commence.