Video: Rookie All Blacks keen to take on EnglandKEY POINTS:
The All Blacks coaches are happy to heap expectations on rookie flanker Adam Thomson as they set out to establish a record dominance over England in the second rugby test against England in Christchurch tomorrow.
Victory at AMI Stadium would be New Zealand's sixth in succession over the English, matching their winning streak from 1954 to 1973.
No other team have achieved this in England's 606 tests dating back to 1871.
The average score in the last five meetings of the teams is 35-15 in New Zealand's favour but assistant coach Steve Hansen does not anticipate a one-sided contest tomorrow.
Widespread criticism of England's 20-37 first test loss last weekend and the controversy swirling around the tourists following an alleged post-test incident at their Auckland hotel would only harden the attitude of the tourists, Hansen believed.
He expected another furious contest up front, something that had the All Blacks wobbling for periods at Eden Park last Saturday.
The young English loose forward trio of Tom Rees, James Haskell and Luke Narraway were at the forefront, often driving the hosts off possession or making quick ball difficult to come by.
The heat goes on the unheralded Thomson in his first test start to link smoothly with veterans Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo and find his feet on an elevated stage.
It was also suggested to Hansen that right-side flanker Thomson would be closely scrutinised by a Canterbury crowd still stinging that in-form Crusaders loosie Kieran Read had been shut out of the All Blacks squad by Thomson.
"I'd say there's a lot of pressure on him from the fact that he's playing his first test as a starter ... that's enough pressure on its own," Hansen said.
"How he deals with that will probably reflect on how he performs."
Thomson made his name in sevens rugby and his speed was prominent for the Highlanders in the open spaces of the Super 14 this season.
However, test rugby is a different beast and Hansen wants him to follow the lead of the man he has replaced, Jerome Kaino.
"Jerome has been physical in the contact, both as a ball carrier and a tackler. He's been a good link player and we'd expect Adam to do that as well," Hansen said.
"Adam's got the added bonus of being a very good penetrator so when put in the clear he's pretty devastating.
"He has a happy knack of turning nothing into something. He's done it all season for the Highlanders so we want to see if he can continue that at test level."
England openside Rees and his cohorts will not offer Thomson any favours but the 23-year-old is more focused on developing the tourists' loose forward combination which currently tallies just 21 test caps.
His desire is to be part of a trio that can establish a reputation akin to England's finest loose forward mix - 2003 World Cup stars Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Richard Hill.
"New Zealand have had some great loose forwards but those are the guys in England who set a standard," Rees said.
"We're putting markers down for ourselves not just for these tests but the future as well and this is the environment to find out whether you're up to it.
"While we did fairly well at the breakdown (at Auckland), it doesn't count for much when you lose."
Rees and Haskell were clubmates of Wasps great Dallaglio, before the veteran No 8 ended his career with their recent triumph in the English Premiership final.
"The amount that we both learned from Lawrence, particularly James, who has the same physical mould as well, has developed the pair of us as young players."
The All Blacks will seek a ninth successive win in Christchurch and to extend their world record home streak to 28 victories.
Another record will be matched by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan, who equals Welshman Derek Bevan and Australian Peter Marshall by controlling his 12th test involving the All Blacks.
- NZPA
