Jason Ryan on Stopping England's Twickenham Power Surge

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Being back on home turf and in front of their crowd, Ryan expects England will not only show their traditional style of game but will look to move the ball wide.

"We've got no doubt they will have some different pictures for this Test that we haven't seen in the first couple when we were in New Zealand.

"We're always trying to evolve, and it's England at home and on their home ground they are a different team.

"We know we've got to start the Test match with a lot of velocity and high impact to get into the game early."

The All Blacks are wary of the dominance lock Maro Itoje imposes, and he showed in New Zealand that he was diligent in his play on either side of the ball and was a competitive influence throughout games.

"We're trending in the right direction around giving our backline some quality ball so we can play some footy.

"We've looked at this Test closely and we know that in six days following we've got Ireland, so there's not a lot of preparation. It's about what's in front of us now and preparing with respect for England and not getting too far ahead of ourselves."


Ryan said the advance party of 11 sent from Japan to England last Friday had worked on aspects of the game they wanted to prepare for England before they left.

"It gives us a head start."

Having to play England, Ireland and France on consecutive weekends was a heavy assignment. But they learned a lot from their two Tests in South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

That was especially around how quickly momentum could shift and the demand required for accuracy because opposing sides could turn errors around to score quickly.

"Over this side of the world, the game is a little different. Having those couple of Tests in Africa, you embrace the crowds and the atmosphere. We exposed some of our young boys to those Tests and believe they will be better prepared.

"We're looking forward to that and know we have got to be right on top of our game.

"We've got to start and finish Test matches well."

Having been most recently exposed to England, Ryan said the lesson from their two July Tests was how good they were at the breakdown.

That series was the first time the players and coaches had worked together, with new calls to be absorbed.

"We've had time together now, which will bring some cohesion. We know ourselves better in a way and around the set piece.

"The English at home is a formidable challenge that we respect and are looking forward to."

Ryan talked about the emergence of loose forward Wallace Sititi.


"He caught our eye in Super Rugby Pacific midway through. He had been known through an Under-20s campaign for his ball carrying and his real point of difference defensively.

"What we have been impressed with in the Test arena is how naturally he seems to be in how he carries himself. He's got a lot of leadership qualities. He works hard with Ardie [Savea] and the other loose forwards wanting to grow his game.

"And then there's the other side of it around his body and getting his conditioning right to Test level. The sky's the limit around Wally.

"We've been impressed with the character he is and he's taken every opportunity he's been given and that's a credit to him."

Ryan said the selectors see Sititi as a No8 who can cover six, a situation in which he played his first Tests and did well.

Sititi and Savea work well together.

"The two them add a massive amount of ball carry power to our pack, which is good. And he's [Sititi] such an explosive lineout jumper and can get off the ground so fast."

Their combination added value, with Savea jumping at the front of the lineouts while Sititi was available at the back.

"They work pretty hard together and compete hard at training. It's a good combination that's keeping everyone honest."

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