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Agence France-Presse

England will play tests in Auckland, Dunedin and Hamilton when they tour New Zealand next year, the Rugby Football Union announced.
The series starts at the All Blacks’ Eden Park fortress on June 7, continues at Forsyth Barr Stadium seven days later and concludes at Waikato Stadium on June 21.
England’s tour also includes a midweek match against seven-time Super Rugby champions the Crusaders in Christchurch on June 17.
Three of England’s 2011 World Cup group matches were staged in Dunedin, where they defeated Argentina, Georgia and Romania, while Eden Park was the setting for their 19-12 quarter-final loss to beaten finalists France.
England, the 2015 World Cup hosts, will travel to New Zealand looking to turn the tables on the world champions following last month’s 30-22 loss at Twickenham in a gripping encounter.
“To play the world champions in their own back yard is the ultimate test,” said England coach Stuart Lancaster. “We saw in the Rugby Championship and the QBE Internationals what a formidable team and rugby nation New Zealand is.
“This is our final tour before the World Cup and is massively important for us to benchmark ourselves against the number one team in the world.
“Playing three tests and a midweek match will give us the opportunity to take 35 to 40 players who will get a chance to lay down a marker 15 months out from the World Cup.”
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said: “We are very excited to be hosting England next year. England have proven in recent matches with the All Blacks just how tough an opponent they are so we hope this series will be a huge drawcard for fans.”
England’s prospects of winning the series opener will be hampered by a fixture clash that means Lancaster is almost bound to field a weakened team.
The first test takes place just seven days after the English Premiership final at Twickenham and that has left Lancaster in a position where he won’t be able to field his best XV until Dunedin.
France, Wales and Ireland will face the same complication following the Top 14 and Celtic League finals on May 31 for their 2014 tours of Australia, South Africa and Argentina respectively.
International Rugby Board chief executive Brett Gosper said last week officials were looking at ways to avoid similar schedule clashes in the future.


England’s tour to New Zealand ‘is ultimate test’

England lost to the All Blacks in a gripping encounter at Twickenham last month and will get three more bites at the cherry in New Zealand next year. Photo: AP

Sport

Rugby

Coach Stuart Lancaster says final trip before World Cup will act as an important benchmark
