Rugby Union: Scarbrough"s warning for England ahead of All Blacks

Former Leeds Tykes flier Dan Scarbrough believes England need to be wary of a New Zealand team seeking revenge at Twickenham this Saturday.

Stuart Lancaster’s side are looking to complete a perfect autumn by beating the mighty All Blacks for the second successive year.

That record 38-21 defeat England inflicted on the All Blacks last December, which is the world champions’ only defeat since August 2011, is a score Scarbrough warns New Zealand will be desperate to settle.

“The Kiwis won’t have forgotten what England did to them last autumn, they’ll want to come and embarrass England on home soil,” says Scarbrough, 35, who is back in Yorkshire after spending the final five years of his playing career in France.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen to be honest. Physically I think we’ll match them, it’s just going to be a case of on the day, who shows up.

“England seem to be bringing more power into their game with each passing week and from what I saw it was a really solid performance against Argentina, and just in time for the big one against the All Blacks.”

Bingley-born Scarbrough returned to Yorkshire in the summer after finishing a spell across the channel that began with three years at fashionable Racing Metro and ended with two years at unheralded Lille.

He is working as a trainee teacher and senior rugby coach at Bradford Grammar School, as well as playing the occasional game – out of term time – for National One side Wharfedale.

As he looks upon the current England set-up, he has empathy for the players who are currently vying for the affections of Lancaster with the race to make the World Cup squad in two years’ time already in player’s minds.

Scarbrough twice found himself in the exact same situation. In 2003, he debuted in a warm-up game in Cardiff but was overlooked for the squad that won the World Cup. Four years later, having swapped Leeds for Saracens, he earned his second England cap on the summer tour to South Africa but again missed out.

“It was one of those where I’d have been lucky to be involved in ʼ07, whereas ʼ03 I’d been involved more in the build-up,” recalled Scarbrough.

“If there’s any advice I can give to the boys now it’s just relax and take your opportunity.

“It’ll be different for each player, whether they’ve been there for a while or they’re got one opportunity to take – you’ve just got to seize it.

“The players will have one eye on what’s on up ahead, but the idea generally is to take it game by game, and week by week,” he said.

“Continual improvement is what England was always about in my time, making yourself better, making the team better and just building up without ever taking a step back. That’s how it will be now.

“And development-wise there’s no bigger game than taking on the Kiwis, no bigger atmosphere than standing up against the haka.

“If ever there’s a test of someone’s mentality going into a game then Saturday is it.”

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Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/9021581/shaun-edwards-says-good-times-ahead-for-wales-despite-defeat

Rugby Union: Scarbrough"s warning for England ahead of All Blacks