England v New Zealand: Brian O'Driscoll says hosts are 'to be reckoned with' ahead of Autumn Nations Series opener

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The Autumn Nations Series gets underway when England take on New Zealand this weekend, and former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll believes Steve Borthwick's side could trouble the All Blacks at Twickenham. The two teams played out a pair of very close matches over the summer. As they build up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, O'Driscoll has tipped England to show they are a "team to be reckoned with".

England a team ‘to be reckoned with’ and ‘should beat’ New Zealand or South Africa

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TNT Sports' Brian O'Driscoll believes England are "a team to be reckoned with" as they prepare for the Autumn Nations Series, while ex-Wales international Jamie Roberts tipped their young backs to be "absolute rock stars".

Steve Borthwick's side face the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

It is the first of four matches over the course of the month, with further fixtures against Australia, world champions South Africa and Japan to come.

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As they ramp up their preparations for the 2027 World Cup, former Ireland skipper O'Driscoll believes England are an improving team.

"I think it's a better team than the last World Cup," he said on TNT Sports' Agree or Disagree feature. "Is it a better team than 2019? I'm not so sure.

"I tell you what, though - they're to be reckoned with.

"The job they did on Ireland in the Six Nations and then pushing the All Blacks close, twice, they're no doubt a coming team."

England have only won one of their last 10 clashes with New Zealand, a run dating back to 2012.

That success came at the 2019 World Cup, when they ran out emphatic 19-7 victories in the last four, before losing to South Africa in the final.

Their most recent meetings came this summer, when Scott Robertson's side came out on top in two close fixtures, winning 16-15 in Dunedin and 24-17 in Auckland.

Danny Care, who won 101 caps for England between 2008 and 2024, believes those close contests prove England have what it takes to trouble the top nations.

"I feel like they should beat one of the top four teams, that being New Zealand first, or South Africa," said Care, who penned his first TNT Sports column on Friday.

"I would like to see them beat one of those two teams. If they don't, I think they'll be disappointed.

"I think we do have a better squad now than at the World Cup. We have got a more exciting squad that is going to fit the game plan that we are trying to play.

"Some of these young, exciting backs that we've got - I think Marcus Smith will play 10, should play 10.

"If England are going to take on the big boys, take on that top four in the world, I think Marcus is the one to do that."

'Absolute rock stars'

Former Wales star Roberts is also excited about the backs in Borthwick's squad.

Alongside Smith, Elliot Daly, Henry Slade and Freddie Steward are the only players to have made 30 international appearances or more.

Their experience is backed up by young starlets such as Tommy Freeman from Northampton Saints, and 21-year-old Exeter Chiefs rising star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, both of whom Roberts is keen to see in action.

"I think some of the young backs in that England squad could be absolute rock stars," he said. "Freeman... Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is some player, and Ollie Sleightholme.

"I think Ollie Sleightholme has British and Irish Lion written all over him."

'People get bored of the same conversation'

‘It’s the same conversation’ – Barclay on Scotland’s ‘frustrating’ inability to take next step

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While the outlook is one of excitement for England, there is frustration surrounding the progress of their rivals north of the border.

Scotland kick off their Autumn Nations Series against Fiji on Saturday, also live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

They then take on South Africa, before further pitting their wits against Portugal and Australia.

Gregor Townsend's side, who are ranked as the world's seventh-best team, are still reeling from failing to get out of the pool at the World Cup last year.

They followed that up by finishing fourth in the Six Nations, results which former flanker John Barclay insists are not good enough.

"I think everyone's a bit frustrated," Barclay told TNT Sports. "It's the same conversation. It comes around pre-World Cup, pre-Six Nations.

"There's a level of expectation now and people get bored of the same conversation, which is why people get frustrated. How are they going to take that next step?

"It's three wins in the last X number of Six Nations. How do you get to four?

"For all the money they laid out last year, and then they lose to Italy in Rome, which they've not done for 10 years or something, since I was playing.

"I think the frustration from a fan's point of view is the drop-off in performance in those games is massive. In that Italy game, you're winning by 20 points at half-time and then you collapse.

"You look at the Ireland game in the World Cup, you look at the second half against South Africa. The drop-off when they're not good is too big.

"You look at Ireland when they're not quite at their best, they're still at 95%. Scotland can't afford to drop down that far.

"I think it's the players [who are to blame]. All the talk after the Italy game was that they decided to play a different brand of rugby. You're winning by 20 points?

"It could be [a leadership thing]. I know it was a throwaway comment after a game and you sometimes get the odd throwaway comment. But the emphasis is on the players."

Barclay, who won 76 caps over a 12-year international career, added that Scotland's ability to play well for 80 minutes will be tested sternly this month.

"I would expect them to beat Fiji and Portugal, I would expect them to beat Australia," he said.

"If they don't... just look at the rankings, you look at how they're playing, you look at where Australia are in terms of that evolution with that new team, they're not established in what they're trying to do.

"Scotland have got the same group of players, the same coaches. I'd expect them to win those three."

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Stream the 2024 Autumn Nations Series on TNT Sports and discovery+

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