All Blacks desperate for atonement against English

The All Blacks have quickly moved on after their loss to Australia in the weekend. Photo / Getty Images

One chapter of rugby milestones closed abruptly on the All Blacks' end of year tour in Hong Kong but extending another list of enviable achievements await a squad chastened by their last-minute Bledisloe Cup loss to the Wallabies.

The All Blacks arrived in London yesterday from their Asian stopover for the first leg of an attempt at a third Grand Slam in five years.

And to describe their attitude as one of grim determination would be an understatement.

Some squad members took Saturday's 26-24 loss more personally than others - notably Stephen Donald - but after their aim of setting a new world record of test victories ended three matches short there is a collective desire to protect an imposing record fashioned on northern hemisphere tours since John Mitchell's developmental side lost to England and drew with France in 2002.

Since then the All Blacks have won all 19 tests staged held in the UK, France, Italy and Ireland - and with England at Twickenham looming on Sunday (NZT) the team are anxious to avoid losing back-to-back internationals since the Springboks were dominant in Durban and Bloemfontein last year.

England at rugby's so-called "headquarters" strikes a particular chord with the All Blacks, especially since the advent in 2008 of the Hillary Shield - a trophy commemorating the Auckland beekeeper's historic conquering of Mt Everest.

Centre Conrad Smith, a qualified lawyer, would not exactly outline his argument for wanting to beat England more than Scotland, Ireland or Wales but there was little doubt the 2003 world champions are a special case.

"I've never lost to them and I never want to," the 42-cap midfielder said.

"You hear it from what the other guys have said .... you just know you wouldn't want to lose to them."

England prevailed 31-28 in Twickenham in 2002 and won again at Wellington the year, a landmark victory enroute to their successful World Cup campaign in Australia.

The All Blacks have won the last eight tests played against England and although the Australian setback presents the unfamiliar scenario of needing to review a loss for the first time since South Africa completed a Tri-Nations sweep at Hamilton in September last year, Smith doubted there would an issue refocusing.

"It's always a challenge in rugby sides when you're defeated but you can't overreact to losses," he said.

"You don't want to lose your confidence - that's been a huge asset for us in the last wee while, and always is for All Black teams.

"The boys are hurting and we have to use that edge."

While the Wallabies and Springboks are familiar foes due to Super rugby and the Tri-Nations Smith welcomed making the adjustment for an England side about to embark on their pre-Six Nations test schedule.

"I enjoy the tours more than any other part of the year," Smith revealed.

"It's a different challenge because we haven't seen a lot of their play or their individuals but I'm sure we can deal with it in the next seven days."

Unsurprisingly Smith's likely marker this weekend, World Cup-winning centre Mike Tindall was equally anxious to end another All Black winning sequence.

"I was unbeaten against the All Blacks for four years, you know. Then, since 2004, it's gone the other way," he said.

Tindall has been involved in five of those defeats when not incapacitated by either a broken leg, ripped hamstring or severed liver.

He returned to the England set-up for the first time in a year in March against France and then the split series against the Wallabies in June.

And now for an All Blacks side cranky after the spiking of a 10-test unbeaten streak against Australia.

"They always turn up ready to play, and if you don't turn up with that same will, same passion, they'll be very hard to beat," he said.

"You think back to 2003 when we had two men in the sin-bin and won. "It takes a mental strength and ferocity."

- NZPA