England vs New Zealand: Caps, weight, tries and history – All Blacks have the edge in Rugby World Cup semi-final – The Sun

THE gloves are taped up: England and New Zealand will stalk each other on the rugby pitch like two prize fighters in the ring.

The match-up between Steve Hansen's two-time defending world champions and Eddie Jones' ambitious pretenders is THE match of the Rugby World Cup so far.

England were unlucky not to beat the All Blacks a year ago, who won 16-15 in the teeming Twickenham rain.

That was only after Sam Underhill's 75th-minute try was cruelly ruled out for an infringement in the breakdown by Courtney Lawes.

Boss Jones knows the Red Rose can turn over the greatest rugby dynasty of all time.

But the boys in white are marginally second favourites for this monster match-up.

Their pack weight is 9kg lighter than the All Blacks, who have drafted in Scott Barrett to replace Sam Cane in the back row, adding an extra 12kg to their forwards.

That leaves the two scrums at 920kg for England vs 929kg for the All Blacks.

New Zealand also have the edge in terms of experience, with 767 caps to the Red Rose's 716, while the benches stack up as 341 to 311.

Owen Farrell is a far more successful kicker than Richie Mo'unga this World Cup — but there is a simple reason for that.

He has chosen to go for the posts more times than New Zealand, Farrell has eight penalties and 10 conversions to Mo'unga's three penalties and 14 conversions, with Beauden Barrett adding another penalty.


The number of conversions tell you another story though — New Zealand are a try-scoring machine, getting down over the whitewash 29 times in Japan this autumn.

England are eight behind with 21 tries put down.

George Ford, who starts against the All Blacks, has also helped Farrell's kicking with five conversions of his own, which all came in the 45-7 win over USA.


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