England captain Jamie George has called on his teammates to approach their highly anticipated Twickenham clash against New Zealand with confidence and clarity, warning that they must not be drawn into awe of the All Blacks’ legendary status. England are chasing a first home win over New Zealand in 13 years when the two sides meet on Saturday, in what promises to be the sternest test of Steve Borthwick’s side this autumn.
George emphasized that England cannot afford to be intimidated by the visitors’ history or reputation, urging his team to stick to a well-defined game plan capable of putting the All Blacks under real pressure. “What a lot of teams do is sit back in awe of the All Blacks with their history and all their incredible players,” he said. “It’s easy to do that, but we have to focus on how to impose ourselves on them and make sure we’re the ones dictating the game.”
England head into the fixture buoyed by a nine-match winning streak, including a commanding 38-18 victory over Fiji. Their current momentum stands in sharp contrast to last year’s struggles, when they suffered six defeats in seven matches—three of them to New Zealand. However, Borthwick’s men have since developed a reputation for finishing strongly, repeatedly outscoring opponents in the final quarter of games.
The squad has been boosted by the return of Elliot Daly, who could make his first appearance since recovering from a fractured arm. Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, and George Ford are also expected to return to the starting lineup, providing vital experience for a young team still learning to manage high-pressure situations.
New Zealand, meanwhile, remain unbeaten at Twickenham since 2012 and continue to chase a home nations grand slam following their narrow win over Scotland. Despite their form, George remains adamant that England have the tools to cause an upset. “If we execute our plan and stay disciplined, we’ll give ourselves a real chance,” he said.
With both teams eager to make a statement, Saturday’s encounter at Twickenham promises to be a fierce contest that could redefine England’s trajectory under Borthwick.
