The convincing win against the Wallabies at the weekend has left it very black and white who the best two rugby teams in the world are.
The initial absorption of intense Aussie pressure before running over the top of them capped off a perfect calendar year of 13 wins from 13 under Eddie Jones, added to their defeat of Uruguay in last year’s World Cup, to take England’s winning streak to 14.
If they carry on their winning ways in the Six Nations next year against France at home, Wales away, Italy at home and Scotland at home, the men in white will equal the men in black’s recently-set tier one world record of 18 wins on the trot.
That would set up a saliva-inducing match against the resurgent Irish in Dublin the day after St Patrick’s annual excuse to drink green beer on 18 March 2017 for a shot at the World Record outright.
If such a scenario was to play out you could only imagine the degree of smugness etched on Jones’ face with the prospect of the All Blacks not able to have a crack at wiping it off until November 2018.
Many in the rugby world are clamouring for a meeting between the number 1 and 2 ranked teams ASAP to get bragging rights sorted. I’m not one of them.
Sure it would be an epic, compelling contest between champ and challenger, but I’m happy for the mystique and allure of the clash to continue to build as the two teams avoid one another on their pre-determined orbits.
Any mystique and allure has long faded from other epic match-ups such as the Bledisloe Cup due largely to an over-supply of fixtures year after year – not to mention the predictability of their outcome since ’02.
And, just quietly, I think the All Blacks would have England’s measure if both teams were somehow able to get themselves recuperated and refreshed to square off now.
It was all England could do to somehow hang onto the Wallabies who thundered out of the blocks at Twickenham on Saturday. Australia only needed one of the three occasions it crashed over the home side’s try line in the opening 15 minutes, to add to the converted try they did score, to put them almost out of sight with only a quarter of the game gone.
England were utterly shellshocked by the opening assault that had them bumbling and fumbling as the Wallabies hoed into their work with big gain-line pressure and some sparkling attack.
But much of that early dominance was not converted into enough points for it to be of much consequence.
So when Nick Phipps had his inevitable moment of dither that set off the awful chain reaction that resulted in Jonathan Joseph’s first try, it was England who were able to claim an improbable lead after half an hour of Australian dominance.
Had it been a fit and firing All Blacks up against England, they would have converted more of the pressure into points and kept the door more firmly shut on opportune scores against them, rather than leaving it wide open as Phipps did.
As the game wore on into the second half, England won more ball and began to exert their own gain-line dominance through the likes of impressive number 8 Nathan Hughes on his run-on debut, Mako Vunipola and Courtney Lawes.
Imposing themselves in the collision in the way that Lopeti Timani, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu and co had done so effectively in the first half.
England’s man of the match, scrum half Ben Youngs, put on a masterclass of box kicking, crisp clearing and decisive daring to have his team consistently on the front foot throughout.
His try from a quick tap and dummy, bought hook, line and sinker by none other than Phipps in the 50th minute, was a case in point.
Where England varied their play the Wallabies stuck to the tune of run-pass-run – with the odd innocuous Phipps box kick thrown in – that they have been playing all year and became increasingly easier for the England defensive wall to corral.
You would imagine the All Blacks, with backline general Ben Smith assessing options from fullback, would explore other ways of unlocking England’s wall. Such as popping chip kicks in behind it, skirting it with wrapping off loads and kick passes or bursting through its weakest point – George Ford’s channel – with Beauden Barrett’s blistering pace.
Of course this is all merely hypothetical and based on observations of now that could easily be rendered obsolete by form and attrition in the two years hence when England and New Zealand next square off.
Until then England will strive to keep building on their growing belief – the irrepressible sort that can only be gained by teams that haven’t lost in a long while.
It’s a belief that begets the composure they showed in the calm way they dusted themselves off from the Wallabies’ blistering opening challenge to work themselves into the game, slowly build ascendency and then pounce on every opportunity that came their way.
It was, as much as it pains me to say it, a rather All Black-esque response. The supreme confidence in their own ability to right the ship and get the job done. No panic. No fluster.
Composure like that is such a vital thing in top-level rugby when things will never always go your way in the white hot heat of battle.
Jones talked about it after the game: “I was really pleased with our composure, our ability to adapt. It was a big step forward but we won’t get too carried away.
“There is still a hell of a lot of work to do to become the best team in the world and the players know that. “We’re only the number two team in the world and we want to be number one and we have a long way to go before we achieve that.”
I agree Eddie, but you’re well and truly on the right track.
Unless, of course, the All Blacks find another gear and create a new track to travel along as they have so often in their past.
Do they have it in them?
The blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions in six months should give us an indication.
Bring it on.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Matt. I Agree. Also I think ENG are today where I think Bomber wanted them to be this time last year. ENG likely to improve from here on. Look forward to what else comes up. Especially when the fake Italian (Mario) is back on the field
Dcnz
Guest
Great article Matt - they do have some smart people from Canterbury after all ho ho ... I think we should also remember that by the time the Lions tour rolls around that SBW will be back along with Skudder and the re build of 2016 will bear fruit. Also K Read is starting the Super Season late so he will be refreshed. Ardie will be bigger and competition for places will be intense. Plus the Lions have a brutal schedule ..
Taylorman
Guest
Yes the RC is when our teams peak, as that's when they're required to peak, same as the 6N.
Whakaata
Guest
Reality is none of these tours give a real indication of who is better. FACT EOYT and Autumn tours take place when one team is on the up and the other is at the very end of their long seasons. The World Cup is really the only time and place that all teams are on an level playing field. IMO there is no way in hell Ireland would have beaten the ABs had they played during the 4 Nations period, this was pretty obvious when they were soundly beaten in the second fixture at home in Dublin, the Ireland result whilst deserved was a bit of a one off fluke.
Dcnz
Guest
Sounds like fake news to me bro !
Taylorman
Guest
Xie, we don't dream of beating the Lions, we expect it. ? With ten series wins from 11, the only losing series by the least possible margin and 6 losses from 38 tests, the Lions have typically been canon fodder. And none of those AB sides had the winning rate of the current one, 45 home test wins since 2009 and still counting. Why would anyone waste a dream on that? ? Do you know the difference between wishful thinking and proper analysis? You may not like them, but you really should extend your thinking to more than...'gee I hope these b....s lose so I'll throw in some random thoughts' Good effort though. ?
piru
Guest
Oh sure, Crowded House you claim, Pavlova you claim, but Dean Mumm - nah he's a Kiwi.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Danny - or the kid at school who wears all the flash threads to footy training yet plays for the 3rds.
BBA
Guest
Hi Cuw Thank you for your response I do understand the point an 80 min game is trying to make. However my gripe is that I find it a lazy expression, and yes I may be being nit-picky. My view / opinion is that it is not an 80 minute game but a series of key moments. If you lose some of these big moments it is game over. The other way of looking at it is that teams need to win the big moments. I think that is what Ireland did in Chicago this year and then the AB's did in Dublin. If Ireland had played 80mins against the AB's in Chicago then the AB's would not have come back at them in the second half. The difference was purely Ireland being able to take the chances when they came along and that kept trying to create chances where they perhaps did not a few years earlier in Ireland, when say all Sexton needed to do was make a pressure kick. However, you don't have to win all these big moments, and often there are more big moments at the end of the game when both teams are tired. You do have to be able to create big moments, which some teams are able to do more often than others.
Jerry
Guest
I was gonna correct your guess as to my job, but I see you've already conceded you're wrong sometimes so I won't bother.
Richard Doherty
Guest
Some of what you say is right Xanadu. Some average performances. Some poor discipline. I actually thought some of the refereeing up North has been pretty average, especially around the ruck and scrums. But when we are the home team we get some of the same rub I guess. Read is still growing into the role and the change in the leadership group may also contribute to leadership question to be fair. But a dream? The Lions will be massive next year no doubt but coming down here on the back of their own season, regalvanising and feasting on Kiwi flesh? That would be the dream Xanadu...
Taylorman
Guest
What I mean is Ive seen the ABs going for this record about four times now and every time it has been the only reason to win in the end, other than winning another test in itself. I've seen the Chicago result before and am convinced the further you get away from losing, the less you learn from each match. Losing for teams in the top echelon is essential to succeed. England haven't lost for a long time and I'm guessing they'll drop one they less expect to purely because of that. In this mode ANY of the 6N sides can knock them off if they don't find ways to play as though the can't lose, not because they usually don't. They'll be up against sides that are more motivated than they are. And that's what will probably cost them the record. It's not just about the last Ireland match.
Taylorman
Guest
So if England and Wales win one each we end up with two drawn series and you then want both teams to switch oppositions? Just when it's getting exciting?
Taylorman
Guest
Yep, for me they won't do it. No one will. All teams are on alert with Ireland and England performing and Wales have big things to prove and get both at home. France have the worst draw so the tournaments going to come down to the final match with Ireland and England or earlier with Wales knocking one or both of them at home. Those three matches to decide the winner.
correct sometimes
Guest
Jerry, you are a credit to your family an your country. we really need more people like you on this website. Hope you have fun at work today digging ditches
Jerry
Guest
In general discussion 'rugby' usually refers to Rugby Union. Rugby League is generally called 'League', 'Footy' or 'Turf-Rooting', I believe....
Jerry
Guest
"perhaps its just a car horn honking while you read him in your head making you think youre hearing a clown talking to you?" Maybe he just reads all his posts with Michael Cheika's voice in his head?
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Talk to SANZAR. They wanted three match series against NH opposition, so that's what we got.
Daire Thornton
Guest
I assume there has been a Uruguayan player or two in the Argentina side over the years? Anyone know? Colonia is only a short ferry ride to Buenos Aires.
Daire Thornton
Guest
@ Xiedazhou England beat Ireland in Twickenham this year but not by that much. The real test for them will be to beat Ireland in Lansdowne road next year. Dont forget England lost comfortably there the last time they were there so I wouldnt be printing off your grand slam teeshirt just yet. :-) There isnt that much between the sides so home advantage may just prove too much against Ireland.