England Rugby Union Team Prepares for Challenging New Zealand Tour
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England’s national rugby union team, led by head coach Steve Borthwick, is gearing up for a demanding two-Test series against the formidable All Blacks in New Zealand this July. Borthwick has emphasized the need for his side to be “tactically smart and mentally tough” as they seek to emulate the team’s 15-13 victory over the Kiwis in Wellington back in 2003, a match where the tourists overcame the sin-binning of Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back.
Borthwick, who was an unused substitute in that historic 2003 encounter, recalls the team’s resilience in the face of adversity.
“Whenever you play against New Zealand, you have to be tactically smart and mentally very tough to get the results you want,” the coach told Sky Sports News. “The standout memory I have of the 2003 game was when we were down to six forwards. The need to stand firm, the team had to get out of that situation and find a way to win. That is the next step for us, it is a great challenge.”
Prior to the New Zealand series, the England squad will face off against Japan on June 22, with Borthwick expecting sapping conditions in Tokyo. “We have heat protocols in place, making sure the players are ready for it physically, emotionally and mentally, and that they can handle the ball. We are training for those conditions now,” he said.
Borthwick has expressed confidence in his group of players, which features a blend of experienced senior internationals and exciting young talent. He highlighted the contributions of Saracens’ Ben Earl, Northampton Saints’ Fin Smith, Harlequins’ Fin Baxter, and Exeter Chiefs’ Greg Fislau as examples of the “emergence of a new England team” in the post-2023 World Cup transition.
The England coach named a 19-strong training squad on Sunday, with more players from Northampton, Bath, Sale Sharks, and Saracens to be added once their Premiership play-off campaigns are over. The team’s summer fixtures are as follows: June 22 vs Japan, July 6 vs New Zealand, and July 13 vs New Zealand.
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