Rugby Union Autumn Tests 2008 - England hope to upset All Blacks

Martin Johnson says England are looking forward to taking on New Zealand on Saturday despite going into the game on the back of two heavy defeats.

England were thrashed 42-6 by South Africa last weekend, having lost 28-14 to Australia in their previous game.

But Johnson told the BBC: "The guys have responded pretty well. It does hit your confidence when you get beat like that and you have to bounce back.

"They're just looking forward to getting out there and giving it a go."

Last weekend's defeat by South Africa was the biggest England have ever suffered at Twickenham and Saturday's encounter against the top-ranked side in the world is a daunting one.

Johnson admitted his words might sound a bit "empty" and that only a decent performance from his players on Saturday would satisfy England's worried fans.

"There's a bit of angst, a bit of frustration and a bit of tension around and there should be, we should have those feelings after how we've been beaten," said Johnson.

"What the players have done on the training field this week and how they've handled themselves has been pretty good, but it all really comes down to how they play on the field.

"New Zealand are a very good rugby team and you have to do what you do at the highest intensity and the best of your ability. We need to make sure we're in the game and make sure we don't give away soft tries and if we do, make sure we respond straight away and turn pressure into points."

New Zealand go into the game on track for a "grand slam" of wins over the four home nations, having already beaten Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but All Blacks captain Richie McCaw insisted they are not taking victory over England for granted.

"England are hurting and will want to come out and get it right," said McCaw.

So far New Zealand have not conceded a try in their Test wins on tour, or even a point in the second half of any game.

They will field their strongest available line-up at Twickenham, with centre Conrad Smith back in the starting XV after missing the victory over Wales with a groin injury.

The All Blacks' pack will be the most-capped in their history, with the starting eight having amassed 363 between them.

The England players are in no doubt they need to deliver a much-improved performance, having been booed off after their mauling by the Springboks.

England captain Steve Borthwick, whose own role has come under scrutiny, told the BBC: "We're aware of the criticism, but nobody wants to win more than the guys out there wearing the shirt.

"There was incredible disappointment [after the South Africa defeat], but we know we are improving and learning as we go.

"Last weekend was a brutal lesson but what's important is we learn from it, stick to our goals and move on. This [facing the All Blacks] is a huge challenge but a very exciting one."

Open-side flanker McCaw, who will win his 70th cap on Saturday, said he had some sympathy for England.

"We've been in a similar situation ourselves this year. We were beaten twice by the Aussies in July and it was a horrible time.

"When you get a chance to put it right, and England have a chance seven days later, that's what you have to do.

"We're expecting them to throw everything into it and they will be desperate. We have to match that intensity or else it will be a long day."

England have made three changes to the side beaten by the Boks, bringing in Toby Flood at fly-half for Danny Cipriani, who drops to the bench, and Nick Kennedy and Michael Lipman into the pack.

The athletic Kennedy will be expected to challenge the All Black jumpers at the line-out, while Australia-raised Lipman, a surprise selection ahead of Tom Rees, has the job of trying to negate McCaw's influence at the breakdown and assist Borthwick.

"You need voices, you need people to direct, work out what is going wrong and put things right on the spot," Lipman said.

"It was a little bit too quiet against South Africa but I played with Steve for a long time at Bath. We know each other very well and I will look to help him every way I can and make his job a lot easier."

Saturday's winning captain will receive a trophy from Sir Edmund Hillary's widow, Lady June, named in her husband's honour.

The Hillary Shield will be contested whenever England and the All Blacks meet in an international or Test series outside of the World Cup.

The trophy honours Sir Edmund's lifetime of achievement as a mountaineer, adventurer, humanitarian, and as Knight of the Garter. He died in January this year.

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England: D Armitage; P Sackey, J Noon, R Flutey; U Monye; T Flood, D Care; T Payne, L Mears, P Vickery, S Borthwick (capt), N Kennedy, J Haskell, M Lipman, N Easter.
Replacements: D Hartley, M Stevens, T Croft, T Rees, H Ellis, D Cipriani, D Hipkiss.

New Zealand: M Muliaina; J Rokocoko, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, N Tialata, B Thorn, A Williams, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo.
Replacements: H Elliott, J Afoa, A Boric, K Read, P Weepu, S Donald, I Toeava.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)