All Blacks need to win for sake of their RWC defence ; by DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick has described this weekend's clash with England at Twickenham as "huge" and urged Steve Hansen's team to win for the sake of their World Cup defence.

Fitzpatrick has shared a table with former England players Lawrence Dallaglio, Stuart Barnes and Jeremy Guscott to discuss the November test window that starts this weekend and involves some giant inter-hemipshere tussles less than a year out from the World Cup.

Fitzpatrick, the former All Blacks captain who has been domiciled in England since retiring, made no secret of the importance of this tour for the current side, particularly the test against England at the World Cup headquarters.

"It's a huge day. It's the last time we will play England before the World Cup. We got beaten here two years ago. For psychological reasons, the All Blacks have to win at Twickenham," Fitzpatricktold The Sunday Times, who set up the informal debate.

Fitzpatrick didn't appear bothered by the recent narrow loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg or the last-minute win over the Wallabies in Brisbane. He didn't sense any fragility in the All Blacks camp and praised Hansen for pushing on with his planning in pressure situations.

"This year has been about developing the squad, exposing a few of the younger guys," Fitzpatrick said.

"What I loved against Australia was the fact that New Zealand were down by two tries, with 10 minutes to go, and [Steve] Hansen emptied the bench ... pulled Aaron Smith, the form player, off, put TJ Perenara on at scrum-half. And the young guys delivered. Malakai Fekitoa had been discarded by the Blues and was sent down to the Highlanders. All of a sudden he is scoring the winning try against Australia."

Just as his old mate Zinzan Brooke lauded Kieran Read, Fitzpatrick felt the big No 8's importance to the All Blacks couldn't be over-stated.

"He was a good player in 2011. He became a world-class player within the space of three years. When he doesn't play or when Jerome Kaino doesn't play, Richie McCaw doesn't play as well. So he complements McCaw superbly," Fitzpatrtick said of Read.

"He typifies what the All Blacks are about in terms of turning good players into great players."

Fitzpatrick agreed with Dallaglio and Barnes that the All Blacks still remained vulnerable to teams that were prepared to take them on physically.

"When I see the All Blacks lose games, as when England beat them two years ago and South Africa in a titanic contest this year, it's when they are on the back foot," Dallaglio, England's World Cup winning No 8, reasoned.

"Aaron Smith has done brilliantly, but do New Zealand play enough games on the back foot for him to really cope with that pressure?

"England have the ability, particularly at home, to put them on the back foot and ask questions of the likes of Read and Smith that they don't often have to answer."

Barnes, the former England first-five chipped in: "Aaron Smith in 2012 had a horrendous game. England flooded the breakdown and he couldn't handle it."

Fitzpatrick joined that chorus: "I think it was more than just the breakdown. England took them on physically. To beat the All Blacks you have to take them on physically. Look at what Manu Tuilagi alone did in that match two years ago. The defeats have come when they have been taken on physically."

With the debate aimed at a British audience, all four pundits suggested England could win three of their four tests against the All Blacks, Springboks, Samoa and the Wallabies on successive weekends at Twickenham.

"England will beat Samoa and Australia and one of New Zealand or South Africa. That is the minimum requirement," Fitzpatrick told the Sunday Times.

Dallaglio felt there were other important tests in front of England than just the All Blacks.

"England have never beaten South Africa under Stuart Lancaster. In fact, they have been beaten up by South Africa a couple of times," Dallaglio said.

"They have beaten New Zealand, albeit once I don't think letting Australia win at Twickenham less than a year from playing them in a group game of the World Cup would be a good idea.

"I would want us to beat Australia and South Africa. Clearly, I would love England to beat New Zealand. Will we? Probably not."

- Stuff

I

Fitzpatrick agreed with Dallaglio and Barnes that the All Blacks still remained vulnerable to teams that were prepared to take them on physically.

"When I see the All Blacks lose games, as when England beat them two years ago and South Africa in a titanic contest this year, it's when they are on the back foot, (Which oaks implies forward dominance)" Dallaglio, England's World Cup winning No 8, reasoned.

"Aaron Smith has done brilliantly, but do New Zealand play enough games on the back foot for him to really cope with that pressure?

"England have the ability, particularly at home, to put them on the back foot and ask questions of the likes of Read and Smith that they don't often have to answer." (Beeno of course noted how Read disappeared against England and tends to do so in tough hard matches. Note how Vermulen got the better of him as well! Then never mind about wee messam and the rickety old mcaaaw!! Hahahhaahhahaha)

Barnes, the former England first-five chipped in: "Aaron Smith in 2012 had a horrendous game. England flooded the breakdown and he couldn't handle it."

Fitzpatrick joined that chorus: "I think it was more than just the breakdown. England took them on physically. To beat the All Blacks you have to take them on physically. Look at what Manu Tuilagi alone did in that match two years ago. The defeats have come when they have been taken on physically."

"England have never beaten South Africa under Stuart Lancaster. In fact, they have been beaten up by South Africa a couple of times," Dallaglio said.

"They have beaten New Zealand, albeit once I don't think letting Australia win at Twickenham less than a year from playing them in a group game of the World Cup would be a good idea.

The wee abs are gaining a reputation for fragility never mind conniving "woosie" "dodgy" rugby! 

However we should always consider our own situation. I underlined the word physicality. For the last decade matfiled has played lock for the Boks. This is the biggest player disaster ever to have hit the Boks. He has tunred ourr tight 5 into a tight 4. How do you get tight 5 dominance with a stringbean 106 kg lock!!!!!!!!!

The add in the mediocre oupa, a bench player for the Cheetahs, and clearly yet another quota pick. Then we have Jannie whose work outside the scrum leaves much to be desired.

So 3 of our 8 forwards are sub par. 

Now its one thing to field a pap Bok pack against the wee abs but not against some tough NH sides especially England. Granted our squad has been weakened by injuries but will Meyer pick the best from what he has?

Also I note that it appeared likely Pienaar would start barring injury. Is Meyer committed to a more balanced approach. I am not talking about the nz netball rugby the wee abs are forced to play due to a lack of forwards but a balanced game. We shall see.  Senseless kicking away of possession is a  recipe for disaster.

Nice to see the points I made long ago being echoed by knowledgeable rugby men.