England are not just facing fifteen players but a nation, a culture, a set of unique values

WHEN Maro Itoje and his men face up to their latest opponents at Twickenham, there are teams they will not see.

- BY ANDY DUNN

They will not see the team that, less than three months ago, lost in Argentina for the first time.

They will not see the team that, in mid-September, suffered a 33-point humbling by South Africa.

They will not see a team that has slipped behind the mighty Springboks in the world rankings. They will simply see the All Blacks, their nemesis.

There is always talk of New Zealand losing their aura of invincibility, of becoming as beatable as any other elite rugby nation... and then, they land in England.

Not since 2012 have they suffered a Test match defeat on these shores.

That 38-21 win for England - inspired by Manu Tuilagi and captained by Chris Robshaw (above) - featured the finest performance of the Stuart Lancaster era.