Rugby: England ready for big occasion

England coach Martin Johnson. Photo / Getty Images

The moment Martin Johnson was stopped by a woman for an earnest rugby conversation after disembarking at Auckland Airport, he knew he was back in New Zealand.

"Everyone knows why you're here and what you're here for," the England coach said yesterday. "We know we're part of something big here."

Truth be told, the match is a bigger occasion for the Maori than for England, who are using the opportunity to run out the midweek players who did not play during the shared two-test series in Australia. But, like the Irish, they are referring to it as a test.

The English are in buoyant mood after a 21-20 win in Sydney over a Wallabies side that found themselves outmuscled up front.

That could be an omen for the Maori, who were willing in their win against Ireland, but struggled to get their hands on the ball for long periods.

"If you read the media it will be the classic English set-piece versus Maori flair," Johnson said, before adding that he thought the Maori lineout was sound.

"We've got to be pretty good at getting out of our own half because that ball will come back at you and go wide. We've got to make our tackles."

Despite the wholesale changes, Maori assistant coach Daryl Gibson believed the confidence England gained from that upset victory would have a trickle-down effect.

"Whenever a team wins that confidence flows through the squad," Gibson said, before perpetuating the belief that this will be, in boxing parlance, a classic contrast between a puncher and a mover.

"We're acutely aware of how good England are at the set-piece, particularly in the scrum. They gave Australia a torrid time up front and we're expecting the same."

As expected, the Maori have made two changes to their pack, with local boys Karl Lowe and Clint Newland starting.

Newland will add bulk and toughness to a scrum, but it is the selection of Lowe that should offer more clues as to the Maori approach. He has been selected in place of Colin Bourke, with Liam Messam moving to No 8 and Lowe taking the No 6 jersey.

It is an extremely mobile trio with Lowe and Tanerau Latimer two specialist link men, an indication that the Maori aim to go wide often as long as they can secure enough ball.

England name their 22 today.