England clash with New Zealand on Saturday in the main event of the autumn at Allianz Stadium.
Here, we examine five talking points heading into the Hillary Shield showdown.
Time to deliver
England head coach Steve Borthwick has installed the All Blacks as favourites but bookmakers disagree. For the first time since 2002 when Sir Clive Woodward’s world champions-in-waiting ran out 31-28 winners, anything other than victory over the sport’s historical superpower would be viewed as a disappointment. It is a sign of the confidence that is building amid a nine-Test winning run, but also of New Zealand’s current vulnerability as underlined by their record 43-10 defeat by South Africa in September.
Fading aura
The All Blacks’ famed aura – the fear factor generated by their periods of near-invincibility and lineage of superstar players – may be fading but head coach Scott Robertson insists their dominance of the rivalry remains relevant. “History matters” he declared when reflecting on the three wins registered over England in 2024, as well as the fact they have not lost at Twickenham since 2012. Robertson has also taken aim at the amount of kicking his Grand Slam-chasing tourists are currently facing with the dismissive comment that it is the “northern hemisphere, you’re going to get that”.
Borthwick’s bomb squad
The headline theme of England’s autumn has been the loading of their bench with six forwards – known as the bomb squad – and then deploying them en masse with around half an hour to go, a tactic first developed by South Africa at the 2019 World Cup. The aim is for British and Irish Lions stars Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock to bring their experience, energy and X-factor to bear at a stage of the match where the result still hangs in the balance.
England’s general
George Ford endured a difficult second-half cameo in the same fixture 12 months ago, missing a late penalty and drop goal that would have rewritten the 24-22 final scoreline, but there is still no player England would rather have stepping up when clutch moments arrive. The 32-year-old fly-half provides leadership, experience and tactical expertise and will be the commanding English voice on the field. Trailing Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in the fly-half pecking order as recently as the Six Nations, Test centurion Ford has shown his resilience and playmaking prowess to reclaim the number 10 jersey that could still be his at the 2027 World Cup.
Sam Underhill v Ardie Savea
England tackling machine Underhill goes head to head with the explosive Savea in a mouthwatering duel between two opensides who bring different strengths. If Underhill is fit he starts, despite the nation’s vast back row resources. The ultra-physical 29-year-old has multiple strings to his bow, including a jackal threat, but it is his ferocious defence that sets him apart. Savea is also a danger on the floor, but carrying is his main weapon. Fast, skilful and able to break tackles as well as offload out of them, England must not take their eyes off him.