New Zealand take to ‘killing England with kindness’ after disrespect on previous tours

Scott Hansen singled out Marcus Smith's attacking influence for England - Getty Images/MB Media

The last England team to have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand were variously described as grotesque “gargoyles” who had small children “wetting their beds for weeks” and most memorably in Lord of the Rings country as “white orcs on steroids”.

These were compliments by the way. Respect tends to be hard earned and grudgingly given.

But Steve Borthwick’s England team have landed in New Zealand at a time when the tectonic plates are shifting in the Land of the Long White Cloud. There is a new coach in Scott Robertson, a new captain in Scott Barrett and a new apprehensiveness about the usually cocksure All Blacks.

So instead of disregard and disdain - ten years ago Brodie Retallick could not name a single England player - the All Blacks are now taking to killing England with kindness ahead of the opening Test in Dunedin on Saturday. In contrast to the gargoyles of 2003, Scott Hansen, the assistant New Zealand coach, took to repeatedly calling England “beautiful”.

“They are a very, very good team,” Hansen said. “Balanced across the board and they have dominance in their forward pack in terms of their physicality but also their pressure game and their aerial attack. I really enjoyed watching them maturing during the Six Nations, in particular in the Irish and French games they showed a beautiful style of rugby.”

On the likely half back pairing of Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith, Hansen, who is no relation to the former head coach Steve, added: “Marcus Smith is an attacking influence who sees the field and wants to attack it with ball in hand. He has those beautiful skills around turning a team around early. He is a very classy young 10 and we are excited to be in front of him.

“They are very dangerous near the line with their athletic ability. I am really impressed with the English attack and the 9 and 10 govern a lot of that. We need to have a high alertness around them and we have to have the ability to know where they are.”

The All Blacks remain the bookmakers’ favourites. After all, that 2003 victory was only the second ever by an English team on New Zealand soil.

New Zealand have a new head coach in Scott Robertson (l) and a new captain in Scott Barrett - AFP/Sanka Vidanagama

But the usual bullet-proof confidence - some would say smugness - that usually permeates All Blacks’ press conferences was absent on Monday at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in a rain-lashed Wellington. It is easy to forget that their last match was their heart-breaking World Cup final defeat to South Africa and their last home series a first home loss to Ireland since which time they have lost - deep breath - Will Jordan, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Retallick and Sam Whitelock whether to injury, retirement or Japan.

They are stepping into the unknown under Robertson, particularly against a relatively new-look England team. On England’s previous tour to New Zealand, second row Retallick referred to Courtney Lawes as Michael, a former Kiwi Prime Minister. The eyes of Codie Taylor too screamed ‘I don’t know who you are talking about’ when probed about England flanker Chandler Cunningham-South but he just about avoided providing any possible offence.

Asked if England’s converted Kiwi would be in line for any special treatment, Taylor said: “If they are in a white jersey they are getting the special treatment. We respect the opposition but they are still the opposition.”

Hansen’s smiling mask also occasionally slipped. “We have a good look at them and what their strengths are but we see an opportunity there as well,” Hansen said of the English half-backs. Asked to elaborate what that opportunity might be, Hansen said: “Saturday will show.”

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