Steve Borthwick's England ready for a 'test against the best' in New Zealand

06/24/2024 07:04 AM

Fresh from victory in Japan, England have 'incredible respect' for New Zealand but love a challenge, the head coach says

Steve Borthwick insists the days of England rugby teams being cannon fodder in New Zealand are over as his side await their two-Test series against the All Blacks. The head coach says he played in teams who were mentally beaten before they stepped off the plane but he believes the current squad are a different breed.

While England have not toured New Zealand for a decade and have failed to win on Kiwi soil since 2003, Borthwick and his players have flown south determined to show the balance of global rugby power is shifting. They are also motivated by the possibility of becoming the first English team to beat the All Blacks in a multi-Test series.