Elliot Daly says Lions experience could give England the edge against New Zealand

Experience: Daly faced the All Blacks in 2017
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Will Macpherson5 November 2018

There will be an air of unfamiliarity at Twickenham this Saturday, as England take on the All Blacks for the first time in four years.

England have played 47 Tests since being beaten by the world champions in November 2014 and back then six of their starting XV against South Africa on Saturday had yet to win caps.

This makes it all the more important, according to full-back Elliot Daly, that those who faced the All Blacks in last summer’s drawn Lions series step up on Saturday. Nine of the 35 players, including Daly, who assembled at England’s training base on Monday, played Tests on that tour, while their forwards coach Steve Borthwick was part of Warren Gatland’s backroom team.

“You want as many guys as possible who’ve experienced playing against New Zealand,” said Daly.

“New Zealand have an interesting kicking game and use it a lot. It will be quite similar to South Africa, they were putting it on us and we have to expect the same as a back three.

“But that gives us a chance to run it back and seize that opportunity. We’ll look to convert those better.”

The players joined up buoyed by the news Owen Farrell had not been cited for his late hit on Andre Esterhuizen.

In Pictures | England vs South Africa | 03/11/18

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Daly’s 49-metre penalty gave England the lead for the first time on Saturday and he hopes to continue being a player upon whom England can rely.

“It was a big moment,” he said. “We didn’t have too many opportunities until then. After that we showed what we could do with ball in hand.”

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