All Blacks: Top side to play England

LONDON - The All Blacks agree test rugby desperately needs an open, flowing match when then meet England on Sunday (NZT) after a series of kick-dominated snoozefests.

As assistant coach Steve Hansen confirmed the All Blacks would select their strongest starting 15 at Twickenham - which would mean up to a dozen changes - he lamented the current state of test rugby.

Despite an electric atmosphere at a packed San Siro, the second-string All Blacks beat Italy 20-6 on Saturday in a slugfest dominated by kicks, penalties, scrum resets and some basic errors from both sides.

England's 16-9 win over Argentina at the same time at Twickenham was a poor spectacle and led to scathing criticism of the home side and coach Martin Johnson from the British press.

Former England lock Paul Ackford wrote England appeared a side "lacking ambition, direction and leadership".

Hansen again pointed to the current laws, which encouraged a kickfest, that were doing rugby no favours as a spectacle.

"At the moment kicking has overtaken the game. They tried to change all the rules and halfway through the process they decided to play differently up here," Hansen said as the All Blacks arrived in London.

"They didn't want to play some of them so we've got a hybrid type of game and it's ended up with everyone kicking. They probably need to bring the mark back anywhere on the field, then you can't kick it.

"They've always played differently up here, too, and we've just got to accept that.

"But I think the game of rugby needs a good game; not necessarily just a battle up front but some good ball movement and some good tries."

Hansen conceded his side were not immune to an over-reliance on kicking.

He admitted the All Blacks relied on a safety-first approach in their past two test wins over Wales and Italy, which made it six consecutive northern hemisphere tests where they had not conceded a try.

"Sometimes you've got to kick the ball because of the defences and the kicking game is part of opening it up for later on. We probably have been guilty of kicking too much."

With that in mind it will be interesting what tactics All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter adopts as he returns from a one-match ban for a dangerous high tackle in a rematch with England pivot Jonny Wilkinson.

Hansen observed the criticism of England and Johnson, but predicted they might try to open the game up.

"They'll obviously take us on up front, they're a big pack and Wilkinson will kick them around the park, but I think they'll run the ball a bit more than those other two sides we've played.

"We always respect them. Twickenham's not an easy place to play and England are a proud side.

"We've all copped our bit of flak this year and we've managed to bounce back from it so I'm sure they're capable of doing the same thing."

The All Blacks will not be named until Thursday morning (NZT) and while their lineup should be reasonably predictable, most interest will surround who starts at No 6 between Adam Thomson and Jerome Kaino, which of Tom Donnelly or Jason Eaton will partner lock Brad Thorn, and whether Zac Guildford, so impressive on his debut against Wales, gets another chance on the wing.

Hansen said the selectors got a good look at their entire 33-man squad in the first three weeks of the tour, as was the aim, and would revert to the "tried and true".

From the starting 15 in Milan, prop Neemia Tialata, Donnelly, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Cory Jane are the only potential survivors.

- NZPA