New era: All Blacks firmly focused on ‘massive’ England challenge

Assistant coach Jason Holland has explained the All Blacks have prepared a game plan “based initially on beating England” in a blockbuster two-Test series in New Zealand next month.

Coach ‘Razor’ Robertson said it on Monday evening, with the boss revealing “we’ve picked a squad to win this England series.” However, having another member of the All Blacks’ management group repeat a similar message speaks volumes about their intent.

This isn’t about The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup or anything else, it’s about the two matches against England and a clash with Fiji in San Diego. It’s an apologetically direct statement for both coaches to share at the dawn of a new era for New Zealand.

Crusaders lock Scott Barrett will captain the team, while five uncapped players will look to potentially pull on the black jersey for the first time. It’s an exciting time for the group with one of the All Blacks’ traditional rivals coming to town.

While fans may have strong opinions about the omission of Hoskins Sotutu, Ruben Love, and others, this is a team picked with England in mind. Steve Borthwick’s men knocked off Ireland in the Six Nations and are coming off a dominant win over Japan last weekend.

“We talked a length during January, February, March around what we think is important to win international footy and the balance in our game,” Holland said on SENZ’s Bleeding Black.

“The game plan has been picked based on initially beating England and then there’s potential to add four players, once we get through the first three games, to go into The [Rugby] Championship versus the Argentinians, South Africans and Aussies.

“It’s specifically the first three games is what we’re looking at, at the moment.”

Of the five uncapped players in the squad, three of them are forwards. George Bell, Wallace Sititi and Pasilio Tosi will all look to make their mark if given the chance, and it’s important they do considering the strengths that England has.

Crusader George Bell is one of three hookers along with Super Rugby teammate Codie Taylor, and also Asafo Aumua who returns to the national setup for the first time in years. There are only three locks, including Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu, but six loose forwards.

With the set-piece and physical battles expected to play a big part in these blockbuster Test matches, the idea that internationals are ‘won up front’ may once again prove true.

“I think the All Blacks have got, in the last year or so, and watching the boys in Super Rugby, scrum-wise I think we’ve got to a pretty good spot. Obviously, that’ll be a massive challenge against the English,” Holland explained.

“With the tight five that’ve been picked and the front row, I think we’re in a pretty good spot there and Jason Ryan will be powering some work into that no doubt over the next 10 or 12 days when we get together.

“That side of the game and the physical side of the game from one to 15 and one to 23 is a massive part of where we need to be to beat England.”

The All Blacks will assemble in Wellington on Wednesday where they’ll train out of the Hurricanes’ base. After four days on, followed by a day off on Sunday, the New Zealanders will regather for a normal Test match training schedule.