HISTORY favours the All Blacks but while the record is heavily lopsided in favour of the world champions, the game against England at Twickenham Saturday (kickoff 11pm Malaysian time) is without a doubt the game most in rugby are looking forward to of all Tests in this second week of the November internationals.
So move aside France versus Springboks, Wales vs Australia, Ireland vs Argentina and Scotland vs Fiji.
For good measure, the 82,000 tickets for the England game were taken up within days several months ago, even though the most expensive ticket is at 195 pounds – the highest outside of the World Cup.
Tickets were distributed by the England Rugby Football Unions to clubs, schools and sponsors, which means nothing for the general public. One report said 500 were offered to New Zealand Rugby but it wasn’t clear if this number excludes tickets made available to All Blacks Tours to organise packages which include flights, accommodation and some touristy diversions in between matches.
So for New Zealand supporters, the only way to get to attend any or all three games, also against Ireland and Italy, would be to buy packages from All Blacks Tours.
The cost is anything from NZ$2,095 for only the England game, with the total for two adults costing $2,790. For all three games on a tour for 18 nights, the package is from $14,295 to $22,590. The decision to keep a tight rein on ticket availability both in England and New Zealand is to prevent exorbitant mark-ups on the black market but for the Kiwi supporter it means paying much more than if only tickets were made available.
England had had a wobbly year but last weekend’s 12-11 win over the Springboks at Twickenham has been a much welcomed morale booster, with coach Eddie Jones declaring that he is 100 per cent sure England will beat the All Blacks, against whom they have won only once – in 2012 at home – in the last 15 matches.
When the RFU confirmed in September 2017 that the game was on, the hype was maybe at its highest because England was ranked second in the world behind the All Blacks and close to beating their opponents straight wins among the tier one countries but a poor 2018, beginning with a fifth place in the Six Nations, has seen Ireland and Wales move up to leave England in fourth place.
Since about 15 years ago, the successes achieved by the boys in black have been phenomenal – and frightening – so much so that a defeat in any year in which they normally play 14 Tests is considered a major letdown, with the pros and cons being debated in New Zealand for days on end. Every try, every error is scrutinised.
Imagine that since winning the last World Cup in 2015, of the 39 Tests played thus far the All Blacks have drawn one and lost only four, to give them 91 per cent success record. In the number of tries scored, they too are far ahead of the field.
But while the more neutral of fans would put their money on another All Black victory on Saturday, no can begrudge Jones for sounding supremely confident because this is all about now, the present, and not history.
We also hear the usual expression of confidence from England players past and present “that the All Blacks can be beaten”, which isn’t anything unusual because every team, every champion can one day be beaten, whatever the sport.
Friendly warnings too have been issued by the English side to the All Blacks.
The game brings together two sides with contrasting styles. England’s is typical of the game most northern hemisphere teams play and that’s to be more physical whereas the All Blacks are known for their pace and athleticism.
There have been injuries to a few first-choice England players but those called up as replacements for the Springboks game last week showed that they were equal to the challenge.
England also welcomes back win Chris Ashton, who is back in the team after last playing in a Test in June 2014 but the much awaited return of injury prone centre Manu Tuilagi has again been delayed after he was left out of the matchday 23, Last week he was named on the bench but a late groin injury forced him out of the squad.
For the All Blacks, apart from the neck injury that is keeping first-choice openside Sam Cane out for several months, a recent freak eyelid injury also means that first-choice loosehead prop Joe Moody is out of this tour.
Moody has had a bad run of luck with injuries this year with both the Crusaders and All Blacks and had only returned to playing about five weeks ago. He managed only six Tests this year.