England flanker Tom Wood has issued a rousing call to arms in the build-up to the weekend's showdown with New Zealand, urging the side to believe they can compete on an equal footing with the world champions and not "to declare a national holiday every time England beat the All
Rugby: Call to arms precedes England showdown
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Tom Wood. Photo / Getty Images
There is serious doubt whether exciting wing Christian Wade will be available. Marland Yarde, another absentee, is expected to be fit, as is Ben Youngs, the Leicester halfback who was a late withdrawal. Mako Vunipola, the loosehead prop, is not expected to be fit and Matt Mullan from Wasps has been called up as cover.
Wood is well aware that the team chosen to take on New Zealand in the prestige fixture of the northern autumn can expect a backlash from the All Blacks. The loss to England is their only reverse in 32 matches since the World Cup and they travel to Twickenham fresh from a 26-19 victory in France, which took their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
"We want to get to the position where we don't declare national holidays every time we beat the All Blacks," Wood said. "We want it to be a regular occurrence."