Preview: NZ v England - 橄欖球

New Zealand v England


Carisbrook, Dunedin
Saturday 12 June
Kick-off: 0835 BST

England face New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday morning knowing that history
is against them at the 'House of Pain'.

Sir Clive Woodward's side are seeking to dent an impressive New Zealand
record at a venue where the hosts have lost just three times in 101 years.

Only the British and Irish Lions in 1930 and 1971 and Australia in 2001 have
won at the Carisbrook Stadium.

Both teams feature a host of changes from last year's World Cup and an
attritional confrontation is expected.

England, who travelled to New Zealand without 14 players who helped lift the
Webb Ellis trophy last November, are determined to get back to their
intimidating best after a disappointing Six Nations campaign.

The sides are preparing for a tough battle up front and New Zealand's
forwards are expected to struggle against a robust and mobile England pack.

However, England flanker Richard Hill has dismissed the suggestion that
the All Blacks forwards have gone soft over recent years.

"The New Zealand team that took on South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final
did a fantastic job," he said.

"We all know the strength of South African rugby in terms of scrummaging, but
the All Blacks outfought them all the way.

"We need to perform if we want to get any edge, whether it's in the scrum,
the lineout or in the loose."

Sale's Charlie Hodgson again has the chance to show his international class
after being given the fly-half jersey while Mike Catt, now with London Irish,
will lend plenty of experience at inside centre.

For New Zealand, this game represents a chance to erase the memories of last
summer when they lost 15-13 to England in Wellington as part of the build-up
to the World Cup.

New coach Graham Henry has assembled some wise old heads around him in the
shape of assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen and is sure to stamp his own
brand of organisation and discipline on the side.

The former Lions chief will be determined to get one over Woodward in order
to prevent England recording their first hat-trick of wins over the All Blacks
since fixtures began in 1905.

Henry has been true to his word and selected a side based on form with Jono
Gibbes set to earn his first cap and Carlos Spencer holding off Andrew
Mehrtens' challenge for the fly-half berth.

"We're intending to win the game. We may not win it prettily but winning is
the objective," said scrum-half Justin Marshall.

"You can't play as expansively and you can't be as risky. Those off-loads and
little pop passes you want to throw, you have to retain the ball instead."

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New Zealand: M Muliaina; D Howlett, T Umaga (capt), D Carter, J Rokocoko,
C Spencer, J Marshall; K Meeuws, K Mealamu, C Hayman, K Robinson, C Jack,
J Gibbes, R McCaw, X Rush.
Replacements: A Hore, T Woodcock, J Collins, M Holah, B Kelleher, N Evans,
S Tuitupou.

England: J Lewsey; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall, M Catt, B Cohen; C Hodgson,
M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, J White, S Shaw, D Grewcock, C Jones, R Hill,
L Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: M Regan, M Stevens, S Borthwick, J Worsley, A Gomarsall,
S Abbott, T Voyce.


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