ALL BLACKS ALL HUMAN
Feyi-Waboso says England should not treat Kiwis like they are superheroes
IMMANUEL FeyiWaboso urged England not to drape a Superman cape around the All Blacks’ shoulders as they landed in New Zealand.
Steve Borthwick’s side touch down in Auckland on the front foot after a 52-17 tune-up win in Tokyo against Japan ahead of Tests in Dunedin on July 6 and Eden Park a week later.
Previous tourists, from all nations, have been beaten before they have kicked a ball in a land where rugby is king and everyone is an expert.
England have won twice in New Zealand, once in 1973, under John Pullin, and once in 2003, under Martin Johnson, and have not toured here since 2014 when they lost 3-0.
But Feyi-Waboso, the 21-year-old wing who was part of England’s 23-22 victory over Ireland in the Six Nations in March, insists there is nothing to be feared from the men in black. He said: “The All Blacks are the All Blacks but they are human as well.
“As a fan you put them on a pedestal, but now as a rugby player you have to keep them grounded and yourself grounded.
“Everyone is the same – just good rugby players.
“I feel like playing Ireland was the biggest game of my life at the time. I just like constantly being tested. Now I feel like I want to see how I stack up against New Zealand.”
Ben Earl, the No.8, who is a good pal of England cricket opener Zak Crawley, added that wins away against the Kiwis would be like beating the Aussies with bat and ball Down Under.
He added: “As a keen cricket fan, they say, ‘Runs in an away Ashes always count double’. That is a nice slogan for us have to take with us to that neck of the woods.
“They are an amazing team but we feel like we are a team who want to be up in that conversation where they are.”
Head coach Borthwick captained the 2008 squad to New Zealand, who were beaten 2-0, in a tour of off-field scandal. He admitted they were beaten before they hit the tarmac but his side are different. “I’ve been in squads that have got on the plane with no real belief,” Borthwick said. “But let’s take on the best teams and see what we can do.”
New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson stuck with what he knows when he unveiled second row Scott Barrett (circle) as captain.
Barrett edged out Ardie Savea to lead the team with Robertson saying familiarity breeds respect after success working with him at club level.
Robertson said: “Your relationship does count... when you’ve had four years with him as captain and worked closely with him at the Crusaders. The players will follow him.”