Richard Loe: Eagle eye likely on England

Steve Hansen. Photo / Getty Images

I didn't actually play the US the last time they had a test against the All Blacks at the World Cup.

The week before, against England, I was given the most valued player award. Shortly afterwards, I was told I wouldn't be playing against the US because, if I did, Graham Purvis wouldn't get a game at all at the World Cup.

I guess that was one of the earliest days of rotation and it's fair to say I spat the dummy about it. So I watched the Eagles from the bench and what I saw was a team who had size and physicality. They got stuck in and the All Blacks had to go hard until the end to get the result.

It's likely to be the case again in Chicago next weekend. The All Blacks will need to be more than methodical. They will need to find a bit of zest and cohesion to get the foot on the back of the neck early.

The US will have plenty of endeavour and willing but their players are scattered all over the globe and they haven't had much time together. That in itself will be a challenge for them - to get the best out of themselves.

There's going to be a lot of focus on the All Blacks' next game after the US - England at Twickenham. If both teams achieve what they want to at the World Cup, then they are destined to meet each other in the final.

I guess there will be some talk about that in the build up to this year's test but I know All Blacks coach Steve Hansen well enough to believe he won't be seeing the game like that.

To him, and the senior players, it will be a test against England. Full stop. The World Cup can wait - it's one game at a time and the focus has to be on nothing else but the 80 minutes.

As this All Blacks team know, losing to England is a painful experience.

Losing over there is particularly painful and you can only imagine the hysteria should England win this time.

I can already picture what would be written and said if England win now and then meet the All Blacks in next year's World Cup final. The buildup to the final would inevitably be dominated by the English press suggesting Richie McCaw is over the hill, Daniel Carter is a spent force and the All Blacks are on the way down.

Best, then, the All Blacks just focus on playing well and beating a good English team. That's the same with Wales. They will be a tricky opponent in the final week of a long year.

I'd like to think the All Blacks have learned something in losing to England in their final match of 2012 and having to dig themselves out of a big hole against Ireland last year.