England have to free their minds & play

THEY refer to it as ‘getting out of your own way’, the psychology of allowing yourself to perform.

Setting aside anxieties and doubt, mental blocks and fears. Not overthinking or overreading things. Just being – and letting things happen.

At Twickenham today England have to get out of their own way. To indulge in an experience of just playing the game.

It’s the holy grail for all sports people, where you literally don’t think of anything – you just do. But those are the great days. The ones on which legends are made.

All week long Eddie Jones has reminded us that England have a dreadful record against New Zealand. He is right. Eight wins in the history of the fixture is a measure of this evening’s task.

But there is absolutely no reason why England should not beat these All Blacks – who have already lost four times this year – if they free their minds and just play.

Get into that headspace of us against them. Deliver a clear-headed, in-the-zone performance where you are just functioning.

We know what it’s like when Twickenham is jumping. It’s exhilarating for player and fan alike. And it hasn’t felt anything like that this autumn.

It’s as though the crowd have been thinking, ‘We’re not sure what you’re about as a team’. There’s been a bit of us all waiting to see whether they can get it right.

Today is one of those occasions where the expectation is England are going to need to do something special to win – and that will heighten the senses of everybody.

I played in this fixture a few times, most memorably in 1997 when we drew the game having come in on the back of a stuffing and been seen as lambs to the slaughter.

It was one of the most uplifting days of my life, the energy of you and your teammates, pushing to the edge of your capabilities, and 82,000 fans going berserk.

You are buzzing, wired, completely fulfilled.

Owen Farrell’s (above) 100th cap is an occasion deserving of a repeat of that and England can win this game... if only they just go and play.