England are exploring the scope for staging a mouth-watering showdown with New Zealand this autumn after receiving backing for the proposal from Eddie Jones.
The All Blacks have been approached at a preliminary stage over the possibility of facing the RBS 6 Nations champions on November 4, the date allocated for their fixture against the Barbarians.
In a quirk of the international schedule, the game’s top two teams are not due to meet until late next year, but it is understood that with the support of Jones the All Blacks have been sounded out over an additional meeting.
“We are definitely playing New Zealand in 2018,” read a statement issued by the Rugby Football Union.
“If there now might be an opportunity to play them this year we want to pursue it, but there are many parts to this and many considerations to be discussed.”
Among the hoops to jump through is the size of New Zealand’s fee given the Test would fall outside the international window and whatever the final number – possibly as high as AGBP3million ($A4.8 million) – it is certain to be the largest ever agreed for such a fixture.
Further obstacles are presented by the need to negotiate with the Aviva Premiership clubs for player release and concerns over player welfare that will accompany any decision to add the All Blacks to an autumn fixture list that already includes Australia, Argentina and Samoa.
“We haven’t been asked for our support. We will need to understand the details of the proposal before responding,” read a statement issued by Premiership Rugby.
Jones had stated after last summer’s tour to Australia that his intention is to rest those players who had participated in the looming British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand for the entire 2017 autumn series, but the lure of facing the All Blacks appears to have altered his thinking.
Jones has the opportunity to outline his thoughts when he faces the media at Thursday’s team announcement ahead of the climax to the Six Nations against Ireland, in Dublin, on Saturday.
England and New Zealand have not met since 2014, when they played four times, but the clamour for the dominant forces in the northern and southern hemispheres to clash is growing.
Expectation over the encounter has grown since the Wallabies were whitewashed in June and has accelerated further after an unbeaten autumn and the successful defence of the Six Nations, sealed by last Saturday’s 61-21 victory over Scotland.
If England topple Ireland in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day, they will have become the sixth team to secure back-to-back grand slams and will eclipse the All Blacks’ record of 18 consecutive Test victories.
Sydney Potae
Roar Rookie
well the irish won the game good on em was a hard fought victory. mate players in NZ have a huge year ahead smashing them seleves against each other in S/R as well as the aussises and S/A . then there is the lions tour plus three or for other test matches or series. the ABs play much more of their games away from home and against harder opps than the poms in general so recop is so much harder. by the end of a vigorous S/R , domestic and international year player wealfare is a much more important factor than us all wanting to see this game happen[i would love it personaly] in the negociations ahead i hope the fans dont start raving about its all to do with money or the ABs are scared . it would be awesome to see this game happen but not to the detriment of player health yes i know i cant spell that dosent make my comments any less relivent or irelivent
taylorman
Roar Guru
True, but not the first test for the players, but point taken, as its my view that having not played as a side for a considerable period beforehand will ultimately be their downfall. Be interesting what the atmosphere will be like with the finishing of the 6N. The three months prior to the tour can get really intense and with greater numbers in social media than ever its going to be fun.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes agree there and Jones needs to start building that future off the back if the teams success. Who are the next best 30? Of them who can step up to the mark now? Hansen has built in more scope for depth than any coach before him by regularly introducing new players. Even in World cup year he was debuting players that were never going to make the WC squad. Some would think that illogical. But only in thinking about the future as well as the now can you build real depth. So Jones should already be looking at the next level, not just for cover, but for total replacement at some point. That way if players stick around you bat 3,4 or 5 or more deep in spme positions. In Dagg, Smith and NMS Hansen now has three fullbacks that have reached worlds best levels at some point. With Mckenzie and a couple of others the future of the position looks good. Thats the picture Eddie needs to be painting. We know of the U20s success, and so long as theyre coming theough in good numbers, and I believe they are, then thats a good sign.
richard
Guest
A game doesn't have to have end to end running rugby to be a good game.A tight battle of attrition can be just as thrilling - in fact,I sometimes prefer those sort of games.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
First test match ever for the Lions side. Timing can never be great.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Kiwi attempting to give me a modern history and a geography lesson? Heavens, what next?!
Derm
Roar Guru
It's interesting that this news emerges as World Rugby announce the new Tours and Tests Schedule for 2020-2032. Steve Tew said NZRU would not agree to a new schedule unless their demands on a new agreement on revenue sharing was put in place. Now it would the schedule has been agreed. Has a deal been done about revenue-sharing or was Tew's grandstanding called out by the other WR unions?
Barham
Roar Rookie
You could probably make a case that England are structurally stronger now than they were when that 2003 side were around. That was a great team, but when they all retired there wasn't much behind it. Compare that to now with the players coming through and winning three of the last four U20 World Cups suggests (and at this stage only suggests) that there is more to come. But we shall see.
Barham
Roar Rookie
I guess you could argue that in the great scheme of things one match doesn't make a whole heap of difference to either in terms of the workload, but at some point a line has to be drawn I suppose.
Barham
Roar Rookie
Can we have Richard Cockerill and Norm Hewitt squaring off again instead? That was fun - so naturally the Unions banned it. :(
taylorman
Roar Guru
The point was about the setting of precedents and not adhering to the merits of a one off, but I see that point was lost?
taylorman
Roar Guru
NZs first match after eight months is the Lions. Great timing?
taylorman
Roar Guru
True OB and It depends on whether England are still the force they are now as well. Jones runs seem to have a limited shelf life where everything implodes as he tries to keep the same level of momentum going. Englands success will also have the effect of pulling the standards of the other sides around them up so how they cope with losing will be a challenge. Is this a 2003 type England or an AB type of England? A flash run of good players then nothing or real sustainable depth that keeps England at this level for five, ten years, something no NH side has ever achieved to date. I just think the bean counters might think next year could be too late and will continue to push for a 2017 match...an opportunity to good to miss. And unfortunately the ones that will listen will be those same folk who have the power to progress it.
Chris
Guest
That was in Cardiff.
Chris
Guest
There's no chance whatever the RFU would agree to commercial terms that wouldn't work for them. Why on earth should they? They sell out Twickenham for all England matches - short of adding another 80,000 seats playing New Zealand doesn't give them that much benefit. England don't *need* this game at all. Nor do New Zealand.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
"England is part of and in close proximity to the cultural, architectural and scientific heartbeat of the modern world." Eng is close to Europe not Asia. NZ isnt close to anyone and thats exactly how we like it and most of you wish you could have it. # Brexit.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
That was in Wales.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
Well I for one would like to see it. All this talk that NZ cant cope with playing Eng instead of the Baabaas us nonsense imo. Yes NZ lost in 2012 but to act as if NZ lost because of playing too many games is reaching a bit far. NZ had played worse that year imo and Eng won because of quality play and a couple of huge errors by NZ players. NZ also finished both halves the stronger team. All in all the evidence contradicts the theories that NZ was up against illness and fatigue because if that were the case NZ would have fallen away at the end of each half instead of growing stronger. It was a terrible read by C.Smith and a terrible pass by Read that ultimately cost NZ that game imo, that and Eng playing exceptionally well. Id love to see NZ play Eng this year. Id also love it if the excusses stopped. I think one of those 2 has a great chance of happening but the other has a snowballs chance...
Old Bugger
Guest
Hi NV Tempted they may be but, the end game is to go beyond check and aim for, check-mate. In any negotiation, the important facet is not only, to keep your enemies close but, to keep your friends, even closer. Tew won't be dancing on the ceiling if this game eventuates because, he will surely be aware of how much effort, will be imparted by the RFU, to attain this feat. You know - what goes around, comes around. Btw, cheers for the conversations.
Old Bugger
Guest
Then just imagine, what next year's match will generate if this year's, doesn't eventuate?? It may cost the NZRU to wait until 2018, but what the hell.....it gives both sides a 10mth schedule, to sort things out, for the RWC. I think that's enough time, to get everything, on the straight and narrow.