England coach Stuart Lancaster will take inspiration from the All Blacks’ attacking philosophy as he looks to get his squad in the best possible shape ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
Lancaster will unveil his Elite Player Squad on August 1 ahead of the 2013-14 season and he will be focused on building on a promising summer which saw them beat the Pumas in back-to-back Tests in Argentina.
But following a campaign last term which saw England experience the highs of their record win over the All Blacks and the lows of seeing their Grand Slam hopes destroyed by a ruthless Wales in the final match of the Six Nations, Lancaster is looking for his side to find the point of difference in attack.
England face Australia, Argentina and New Zealand in November and Lancaster hopes to emulate their last opposition of the autumn series, the Kiwis, over the coming years.
“I have got a vision,” Lancaster told the Telegraph. “But it is dictated by what it will take to win. Most sides are the same from a strength and conditioning point of view. There isn’t the drop off in physical condition in the last 20 minutes like you used to get.
“The second tier nations – Samoa and so on – are as organised defensively, harder to break down. So the difference will be in the point of attack. If we base our game on being in good condition physically and being great defensively I don’t think that will be good enough. It has to be attack.
“New Zealand won 22 of their last 23 internationals. Their game is based on fluidity of movement, skills, athleticism, counter-attack on turnover ball. They’re the best side. That’s what we’ve got to develop. I think we have the players to do it.”
England now have 23 games before the World Cup and Lancaster has a clear goal. “To get us to where New Zealand are,” Lancaster added. “Get us to that combination of individual skills and good decision making in attack to break down the most organised defence.
“Everyone needs to work to that. The more exposure our players get to it through academies, age-group squads, through their clubs, the better they will be when they come to us. We’re getting there.”
Lancaster turns to Kiwis for inspiration
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