Former England international Will Greenwood says Steve Borthwick’s side have the “rock stars” to challenge New Zealand when they face them in the first of two Tests on Saturday.
England take on the All Blacks in Dunedin, live on Sky Sports, and are high on confidence after strong performances against Ireland and France in the Six Nations before scoring eight tries in a 52-17 victory over Japan last month.
World Cup finalists New Zealand are one of the toughest tests that Borthwick’s side has faced to date, with many believing that England will struggle to get a win over the three-time World Cup champions.
However, Greenwood believes England are a strong side that shouldn’t be underestimated, especially now that they have started to put the “sparkly bits on the cake”.
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Highlights of England’s eight-try victory against former head coach Eddie Jones’ Japan in Tokyo
“England are building but it is harsh to say building now,” Greenwood told Sky Sports News.
“They have a really good team. They have a strong culture, strong dog, a little bit of subtlety and guile, they have got a couple of rock star players who can pull rabbits out of hats.
“It is going to be an absolute belter.
“Steve Borthwick is a five-year-plan kind of guy. He came in nine months before the World Cup, didn’t feel he had enough time, and yet made a semi-final.
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New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson has named his first-ever All Blacks team as they prepare to take on England in Dunedin
“He is a nuts-and-bolts kind of coach, get the set-piece sorted, sure up the defence a bit, then slowly and surely put a couple of sparkly bits on the cake.
“That is what he is doing and he is backing youth. Fin Smith on the bench, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell. He is not afraid to give these guys a go
…. to be continued
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