This was achieved whilst fielding two almost completely different teams against the Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales and a strong Ireland side. Impressive stuff.

It means that England are going to have to be at their collective best if they are to overcome the form team in world rugby.

I’ve lived through some dark times in English rugby when as a supporter you were never quite sure which team would trot out and you were usually certain the match was going to be hard work and very often England would be on the losing side. Test matches were rare things – the Five Nations was an event to be savoured, visits to and from sides from the southern hemisphere were rarer than hen’s teeth – when they happened, the chances of England winning were even less!

These days 10 test matches are played each year – the rarity value has gone down, as has the majesty of the events. I see the haka too often these days to enjoy it (I’m one of those that think all the haka, singing type stuff should stop. Two quick national anthems and then go for it I say!). But an All Blacks test is probably the exception that proves my rule. Despite this being a meaningless game in the scheme of things, being able to see the form southern hemisphere team versus England is going to be a treat.

The first part of the treat is the front five – the battle of the loose heads, Sheridan and Hayman. Both quiet retiring types off the field, on it there are going to be some fireworks. Hayman is the wily old one, Sheridan whilst no mug, is the new boy. Who wins might be the key to each team’s ball retention. Sheridan’s performance has sparked a new energy in the performances of Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery. I’d like to see all three of them build on their performances at the ruck – quick releasing of the ball whilst retaining it will be vital. The second row will also require the same guile and clinically movement of the ball – Jack and Williams are imperious in the lineout and fearsome in the lose. Borthwick will have to be at his retaining and poaching best, Grewcock needs to continue those big drives through midfield.

The back rows tussle features one of the greatest flankers of recent years – Richie McCaw. Where that man goes on the floor makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise. He is the master of getting the ball (both legally and illegally). England will have to step up several gears to match him. I’m less worried by Jerry Collins except the refereeing of him but more of the referee later. Collins is an easier player to read and defend against. McCaw is the master. So-oialo is the third man – so an impressive line-up. A chance therefore for Lewis Moody to demonstrate one and for all he can take on the mantle of Neil Back – this is it Lewis – you’ve wanted it so take it with both hands!! Corry has already stated he wants to make up for his poor performances in the summer and a rather wobbly start on Saturday. I feel sorry for Corry – he’s been asked to be captain with the shadow of Jonny over him. I’d like to see the management make a permanent appointment so whoever it is can stamp their mark on the job. Either way we need him, Moody and Sanderson to deal with the likes of McCaw and either snaffle All Blacks ball or retain English ball. The ability to execute the offload in the tackle or decide to retain it will be key. Whatever happens the management of the breakdown is going to be a gripping spectacle.

The battle of the backs is fascinating – the world assumes that Muliaina, Howlett and Sivivatu will make mincemeat of the England boys. I’m glad we have the experience of Lewsey and Cohen – I fondly remember the Cohen try saving tackle in the same fixture in 2002. Both those boys have been in teams that have beaten All Blacks sides- the mystique will not be there. For Cueto, it’s a chance to prove he can do it against the form side in the world – defensively he’s yet to prove it for me, and in attack he’s got to do exactly as he did on Saturday. My betting he won’t get much ball as England will play it tight in the forwards so he needs to make the most of what he does get.

Centres – we’re not having the best of times with centres but when have we ever had the crop of players we have now? Smith, Abbott, Noon, Barkley… I’d like to have seen an in-form Abbott pair up with an in-form Jamie Noon. Noon is in form, Abbott is with his club slowly coming back from injury. Which leaves us with Mike Tindall – Tindall needs to sort what he’s actually trying to do in midfield – Saturday looked a confused melee as Noon and he were inseparable. When he is playing well Tindall is a rock – we need him the play that role on Saturday. But wait a minute is there a chink in the All Blacks armour – yes it’s Mauger. I’d like us to put him under real pressure because I’m not sure his decision making and execution under pressure are all that good. Umaga will be Umaga – he’s had a tough year but continues to be imperious when he’s playing. I hope he isn’t booed on Saturday - whatever the rights and wrongs of the summer, that sort of inheritance from football we can do without.

And so to the half backs – Daniel Carter, wonder boy of All Black rugby versus Charlie Hodgson, the man desperate to prove he’s the permanent inheritor of England’s No 10 jersey. I’d like to see Daniel Carter put under real pressure by our back row. Kelleher ironically could be the key here. His distribution can be haphazard and decision making slow so England have to take advantage. Saying that Dawson has got to speed up his decision making and no box kicking please. In fact, no kicking the ball randomly to the All Black back three at all from anybody!!!!! If Dawson does get the ball moving then Hodgson has to ensure that the midfield can effectively use it – crash balls up the middle will do nothing. Hodgson should treat this test match to prove he is no second string. He’s clearly wanted the chance well now he’s got it.

And finally what about Mr Lewis the referee – I hope he has as good a game as Joel Jutge did last week. At last the scrum was seen to be treated as an integral part of the game rather than just a means of restarting it. I hope both teams ignore the temptation to resort to foul play – too much newsprint recently has been about a tackle type that should play no part in the game. The stories in Sunday’s paper should be concentrating on the match and have no cause to castigate rugby again. Most of all I hope we don’t notice Mr Lewis at all because then he will have done his job and we will have had a cracking game.

Roll on Saturday!

England: J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps); A Sheridan (Sale), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester); S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath); P Sanderson (Worcester), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt). Replacements: L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), C Jones (Sale), H Ellis (Leicester), O Barkley (Bath), M Van Gisbergen (Wasps).

New Zealand: M Muliaina (Auckland); D Howlett (Auckland), T Umaga (Wellington), A Mauger (Canterbury), S Sivivatu (Waikato); D Carter (Canterbury), B Kelleher (Waikato); T Woodcock (North Harbour), K Mealamu (Auckland), C Hayman (Otago), C Jack (Canterbury), A Williams (Auckland), J Collins (Wellington), R McCaw (Canterbury), R So'oialo (Wellington). Replacements: A Hore (Taranaki), N Tialata (Wellington), J Eaton (Taranaki), M Tuialai'i (Canterbury), P Weepu (Wellington), J Rokocoko (Auckland), L MacDonald (Canterbury).

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