England v New Zealand: This is the biggest challenge in rugby union, says ...

“Against France

on Saturday night, they were pushed hard and only had two or three

opportunities, but they took them. That is the mark of a great team.

“To back ourselves to win a World Cup in England we have to have the

confidence to play a side like New Zealand.

“We play them four times over the next six months. If we want to be genuine

contenders in 2015 we have got to have the belief we can win these games.”

Lancaster dismissed the notion that his young side might be overawed, citing

the lead-in to last season’s unexpected win as an example of just how to

handle things.

“Our mindset has to be the same as it was last year,” Lancaster said.

“We were on the back of two losses last year but we still had that inner

confidence.

“You have to accentuate the positives.

“That belief is there, although we recognise that we have got to put in a

level of performance above and beyond the two games we have put in so far to

beat New Zealand.”

England will be without four injured Lions

with Lancaster confirming that prop Mako Vunipola had definitely been ruled

out, to join long-term absentees Tom Croft, Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi.

Christian Wade, the speedy Wasps speedy wing who had been pencilled in to

start against Argentina,

is not expected to be fit to take part in the double training session on

Tuesday as he recovers from a tight hamstring, which would rule him out of

contention.

Marland Yarde, the London Irish wing, was also absent with a hip problem

against Argentina but it looks as if he will be available.

Joe Marler, the loosehad prop who left the field at half-time against the

Pumas after taking a blow to the head, is going through concussion

return-to-play protocols.

Lancaster names his side on Thursday and is unlikely to deviate from those who

have done service over the past fortnight.

He had a particular message for Chris Ashton, the wing who almost messed up

the act of

try-scoring on Saturday by carrying the ball too far. “Just put the ball over

the line would be my advice,” Lancaster said pointedly.

Getting his team to play at an elevated level for the entire match will be a

prime focus over the next four days.

England laboured in the second half against Argentina, the flip of their

performance against Australia,

when they rallied after the break following a wretched opening period.

“The challenge when playing New Zealand is to do it for 80 minutes,” Lancaster

said.

“That will be our goal. Our first-half performance against Argentina was

excellent, with some of the best rugby we have played.

But we went away from that in the second half. We tried to play round

Argentina without earning the right to do that.

“Defensively we have been strong and our decision-making at the breakdown is

much improved.

“We have to be on the money in that area, it will be a big, big part of the

game.

“New Zealand have got fantastic strike runners.

You know that there will be times when they are in the ascendant and it is all

about not panicking under that pressure.

“It is about staying in the game for 80 minutes. That is what it takes to beat

them.”

Lancaster shrugged aside suggestions that New Zealand had been severely

handicapped last season by illness.

“I didn’t realise anything had been discussed about it. It is about us this

week and getting our selection right.

“It is about growing our self-belief. What happened last year is irrelevant.

“New Zealand will be keen to finish off this northern hemisphere tour with two

wins.”

There are no special plans in place for facing the haka.

“It is one of the great rituals in sport and New Zealand put a huge

amount of emphasis on it and rightly so,” Lancaster said.

“Our players will look forward to facing it.”

Article source: http://sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/rugby_irish/shane-byrne-launches-u21-rugby-tournament-2013-09-02/

England v New Zealand: This is the biggest challenge in rugby union, says ...