Eddie Jones has responded to the prospect of England facing New Zealand this year by joking that he would like the fixture to be staged straight after Saturday’s match in Dublin.
The Rugby Football Union has approached the All Blacks with a view to staging a showdown at Twickenham on November 4 as an additional autumn international.
The sport’s top two teams are not officially due to meet for another 18 months and following England’s successive Six Nations titles, the clamour for them to lock horns is growing.
Victory over Ireland would see the champions defend the grand slam and surpass the All Blacks’ record of 18 straight Test wins, setting the scene for a mouth-watering collision against Steve Hansen’s men.
Jones, though, put his tongue squarely in his cheek when discussing the opportunity.
“If the All Blacks want to turn up to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and want to play us after Ireland, then we’ll consider it,” Jones quipped.
“Would we win? After we’d beaten Ireland? Who knows? It would be interesting, wouldn’t it?”
It is understood that the proposal for a match against New Zealand was made with Jones’ approval, but the Australian refused to discuss the prospect of an early clash with the triple world champions.
“I’ve got no view on that, I’m not an administrator. I haven’t negotiated contracts, all I’m worried about is Ireland,” Jones said.
“The All Blacks have got nothing to do with us. We want to be the No.1 team in the world. When we get the opportunity to play them, we’ll play them.”
davSA
Guest
No Taylorman , its no contest . Ireland beating the All Blacks had a wonderful sense of occasion especially the Chicago venue etc. But it was a very good Irish team to start who simply embraced the moment better than NZ. May have made headlines in NZ and Ireland , elsewhere it was sports news. Japans win was truly seismic , not least of all the effect it had on the Japanese nation. Did more good for world rugby than could be imagined.Oh and it made the headlines pretty much everywhere rugby is played.
davSA
Guest
well I wasn't there Robby but sitting in a pub with my mates in SA . It was kind of weird as we began to contemplate the impossibility of losing . ..When all was done and dusted I cannot recall a single person not acknowledging or complimenting Japan. Sure we gave our side stick , but as the Japanese constantly cut the legs out of our big guys we recognized their courage for what it was. This absolutely happened.
Bryn mullett
Guest
the guy is a nutter.
Old Bugger
Guest
But then, that's what records are there for.....to be broken. Best wishes to England should they progress and take this record.....it will mean that a new target is established for someone else, to havago and beat it. Records are good for every sport... they provides targets for the future sports-folk, to try and better. However, what becomes long-lasting, is winning and being awarded an honour or a medal, for that success cos no-one, can ever take that achievement, away from you.
richard
Guest
Yes,the record (IF they get it) is nothing to be sneezed at.Regardless,we now have another rival - a good thing for the game.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well yes the not losing a single test on your premier ground in the entire pro era for 34 straight wins is for me a better record than the 18, because it stands over more than twenty years but enough chest pumping, will be watching England take it out in a few hours and good luck to them, no matter which way you look at it, 19 wins against allcomers is huge.
Whakaata
Guest
This is the point I am making. If England really want to claim to be the best they need to beat NZ in NZ where they have not lost for over 7 years, they then need to back that win up and beat the ABs again in the following match up. A one off win every 5 - 8 years means absolutely nothing IMO.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes and I think that tenure proved to Smithy that the top job is not for him which is why hes now back up to Hansen / Henry and Rennie at the Chiefs and has had stunning success in that role. That seems to be what barham is inferring for Lancaster... the thinker in the side rather than the top dog. In that respect he could still play a role even with Eddie still there... he had to go at the time so it was clear who the boss was but there might be a time to bring him back in... as Smithy did.
Old Bugger
Guest
Barham In his role as Coach, did Lancaster and England, win a 6N title?? He may have introduced and upgraded the foundations as they say but, did his efforts ever produce, titles?? As TM mentions - Lancaster and Smithy are like two peas in a pod. Both were able to improve the base foundations, both were able to instil a belief in the team and yet, from memory, neither were able to secure a title win of any sort, during their reigns. What Jones has done compares to what Mitchell did when he replaced Smithy as AB coach - they both won titles for their respective sides and the games played, were won with, handsome margins. They may have both, been gifted some exceptional goods but what's important, is what both of them did, with those goods.
richard
Guest
Agreed.I would expect both teams to win at home.Having said that,I would give NZ more chance of winning at Twickers than England winning at Eden Park.Just how I see it.
Whakaata
Guest
Like I said, try beating the All Blacks, the number one team in the world on their (NZ's) patch. Playing them at home (England) increases their (England's) chances significantly they odds are far more stacked in the English's favour, it will never carry the same weight as beating the All Blacks in New Zealand ala 2003 in Wellington from which they(England) subsequently went on to win the World Cup Of the 40 matches played between the two countries England have won just seven and only two of those wins have been in NZ. Yet England will get one win at home and the world will proclaim them to be the world's best when only once in history have the English been able to string two wins together over an All Blacks side. Which was now over 14 years ago. England have won just over 20% of their home matches against NZ and an measly 13% in NZ
richard
Guest
But it does.Results in recent years v both Ireland (2012) and Wales(2014) have seen blowouts in the final test.Here,in NZ,the results were viewed as anomolies,as both teams were knackered and it was one game too far. We are well aware of the fatigue factor - NZ experienced it on their tour last year ( re. the NZ-France game). Personally,if both NZ/ENG keep their current form,I would see Eng as favorites - a game at Twickers in the end of the year,I would give NZ a 40% chance of winning.Still more than I would give any other team,though.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah it does but in this instance it isnt the case.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Nice... yes a bigger upset but a first win in around thirty tests over 100 years is nothing to be sneezed at either, particularly knowing how hard Ireland had tried so many times. Its not necessarily the size of the upset that kiwis were acknowledging but the obvious relief in finally winning one after all those years. Whole generations never saw a win their whole lives. Japan and South Africa dont have that same history.
Barham
Roar Rookie
You mean in NZ at the end of a long season for the European teams when they're fatigued and are missing players through injury? Funny how it doesn't seem to go both ways.
Whakaata
Guest
This potential match up whilst exciting it will be stacked heavily in England's favour. A home game for England and played at the end of the All Blacks season when the team will undoubtedly be fatigued and have key players missing with injury. I can't remember the South African captain's name, but he said that playing and beating NZ at home was harder than winning a World Cup final. Whilst the game in the UK will be significant, to me personally it will not mean as much as beating the All Blacks at home in NZ where they have not lost for seven years.
Barham
Roar Rookie
The results were perfectly fine up until the World Cup. He did seem to lose the plot a bit in the tournament. The one thing I would genuinely feel sorry for him for is if he doesn't get a top level job as a result of that - Lancaster is an exceptionally talented development coach (he'd do a great job with some of your Super 15 sides as a consultant) and will be a better one for recognising his errors in the 2015 World Cup. The thing with him is that I am very confident he will have recognised his errors. He's remarkably self aware.
Barham
Roar Rookie
With all due respect to both ABs and Ireland, the seismic shock of that result wasn't in the same star system to the Japan match. I'll pass on a personal moment from it: I was in the opposite corner to where the winning try was scored - about as far away as I could be. Yet the one advantage was seeing the pattern of that last Japanese attack and screaming 'It's an overlap. My God. They're going to score' before many realised. I can tell so many tales of the aftermath of that game. A truly great sporting moment. One day Italy will beat England in the Six Nations, a lesser achievement without doubt, but I do hope I can retain my sense of proportion to the degree the Springbok fans did that I met.
Barham
Roar Rookie
Really? I suspect based on most responses that mine was more typical. I witnessed the guard of honour for the Japanese fans at Brighton station, and heard about the one at Victoria. All I can say is that in my own experience they were absolutely amazing. I'm sorry your experience wasn't the same.
taylorman
Roar Guru
In a state of shock perhaps? I can understand that and I think kiwis were the same against Ireland. Its probably the 'we all love an underdog' Rocky type theme, where millions have been made from it in the movies. As much as we hate losing sharing the success of the David vs Goliath makes us feel better, and who doesnt want that, even if it is temporarily.?