Abu Dhabi: England’s renowned physicality poses a significant threat to world champions New Zealand when the autumn internationals begin on Saturday, according to former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick.
The 2015 World Cup hosts are desperate to lay down a marker ahead of next year’s tournament by repeating their blistering 38-21 victory over the best rugby side on the planet at Twickenham in 2012.
Speaking to Gulf News, 1987 World Cup winner Fitzpatrick says he fears a repeat could be on the cards if the home side’s monstrous forward pack can gain the upper hand.
He said: “Yes, we are worried about England. They beat the All Blacks two years ago at Twickenham and they’re a very physical team, which you need to be to have any chance against the All Blacks.”
Fitzpatrick is also greatly concerned that promising young hooker Nathan Harris’ absence from the tour — he was injured in the All Blacks’ 74-6 demolition of the United States last Saturday — has left Steve Hansen’s men light up front.
“It’s very much a concern,” the former hooker, who played 92 times for the All Blacks between 1986 and 1998, said. “After [Dane] Coles and [Keven] Mealamu, there is a big gap to the next hooker now that Harris is injured.”
New Zealand’s all-conquering aura has been dented in recent times, following their 27-25 defeat to South Africa in the Rugby Championship last month — which ended their 22-match unbeaten run — followed by a last-gasp 29-28 victory in Australia.
Yet Fitzpatrick expects the All Blacks to bounce back in the autumn series, which encompasses games against England, Scotland and Wales in successive weeks.
He said: “Hopefully we learnt our lessons. This All Blacks team has been as self-critical as any I have seen and they want to be the best All Blacks team, so don’t write them off.”
Fitzpatrick also laughed off former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains’ criticism of code-hopping star Sonny Bill Williams as ‘a mercenary’, the mercurial star having returned to rugby union from rugby league in a bid to play in next year’s World Cup.
Williams, who won the 2011 World Cup with the All Blacks before returning to rugby league with the Sydney Roosters, has been named in Steve Hansen’s team for Saturday’s encounter with England despite missing the Rugby Championship.
“Sonny Bill is definitely not a mercenary and he has a lot of pride in the All Blacks jersey,” Fitzpatrick, who captained New Zealand in 51 Test matches, insisted. “Laurie Mains once told me that I was too fat, too slow, arrogant and probably wouldn’t be an All Black.”
However, Fitzpatrick expects another of the All Blacks’ array of luminous talents to outshine Williams and be the star of the tour.
“[Scrum-half] Aaron Smith has been the player of this year for the All Blacks and will continue in that vein, I have no doubt,” he said.
Looking ahead to next year’s World Cup, who does Fitzpatrick expect to be the All Blacks’ main challengers as they attempt to become the first side to retain the Webb Ellis trophy?
He replied: “Assuming that we get out of the pool, I think Ireland or France will be a challenge in the quarter-finals and then South Africa in the semi-final is always a challenge. If we get to the final, it could be England, who will be very difficult at home.”
Finally, how does Fitzpatrick explain his country’s stunning dominance of the oval-ball game (they have lost only two games since 2011 and became the first side to enjoy an unbeaten record in 2013)?
The 51-year-old, who has become a television pundit and runs a motivational speaking business, said: “The legacy of the jersey, turning good into great players through hard work and the pressure of the nation.”
