NZ tour: Wood calls for mental steel
England's tour of New Zealand next month is set to provide an uncompromising examination of England's progress ahead of the World Cup next year.
Steve Hansen’s All Blacks have not lost a match on home territory since September 2009. '
The trip also includes an encounter against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
And to add to their problems, a convoluted end-of-season schedule means players from the clubs that have reached the Premiership Final – Saracens and Northampton Saints – will not be available for the opener at Auckland's Eden Park on June 7.
Saints flank Tom Wood is well aware that dwelling on the “slightly unusual circumstances" could cost England.
Dismissing those "logistical problems" rather rapidly, the 27 year-old reinforces that an encouraging Six Nations counts for very little in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
The last two Anglo-Kiwi encounters have produced a victory for either team – England's 38-21 triumph in December 2012 remaining the last All Blacks defeat before an unbeaten 2013 – and Wood says the rivalry is simmering nicely.
"It's one thing [performing] in front of 80,000 home fans at Twickenham, it's another thing doing it out there on New Zealand's patch," explains the 28-cap back row forward, who is extremely familiar with New Zealand's culture after spending a year playing in North Otago as an 18 year-old.
"They'll have a huge amount of determination and pride not to let us get one over on them again and I know that even though they've beaten us since that result, they'll still have that at the back of their minds.
"I don't think it's ever been difficult to get up for, we're all proud people and we all love the idea of playing for England. I guess there are just logistical problems with injuries and it being the end of the season. Perhaps people are carrying a few knocks, perhaps your squad is compromised."
Source: RFU media unit
