In a dramatic showdown at Twickenham, England narrowly lost to New Zealand 24-22 last year, with George Ford bearing the brunt of the crowd’s frustration. Ford missed two crucial opportunities in the final moments, hitting the post with a penalty and narrowly missing a drop goal. Coach Steve Borthwick also faced criticism for his substitution strategy, replacing the in-form Marcus Smith with Ford, who was returning from a five-week break. Despite the backlash, Borthwick and Ford remain key figures as England prepares to host the All Blacks this Saturday, aiming to cap off a year of redemption. Ford, who made way for Fin Smith during the Six Nations, later co-captained England to a series victory in Argentina and celebrated his 100th test. Borthwick has led England to nine consecutive wins, their longest streak in eight years, and has earned praise for bold selections, including a bench stacked with six British and Irish Lions. Borthwick has even predicted that Ford could become a future England coach, citing his deep understanding of the game. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s coach Scott Robertson emphasized the importance of history and learning from past performances. Australia, on the other hand, faces a challenging European tour, with second-year coach Joe Schmidt lamenting recent results and preparing to hand over the reins to Les Kiss next year. Elsewhere, South Africa, France, and Wales are gearing up for crucial matches, with the Wales-Japan game potentially impacting the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw. Scotland will also face Argentina on Sunday, as the rugby world anticipates a weekend of high-stakes action.
England takes 9-win streak into All Blacks clash and Ireland hosts wobbling Wallabies
