The world champions flew south from their Auckland training base knowing that a hostile home crowd and new-look All Blacks team awaits them on Saturday.

New Zealand have lost just three times in 101 years at their so-called House of Pain, a daunting venue where only the Lions (1930 and 1971) and Australia (2001) boast victories.

England are also without 14 of their triumphant World Cup squad, but the no-excuses approach that has served them so well under Sir Clive Woodward is again in evidence.

From my point of view, the World Cup was a long time ago, in rugby terms anyway, said England skipper Dallaglio.

In terms of the calendar, it was only recently, but there has been an awful lot of rugby played since then. Its in the past from my point of view.

I enjoy coming down here this time of year. Youve played a lot of rugby, so you know where you are and you havent got to start all over again. You are in the mood for it.

I am sure that both teams would have liked a bit more preparation time, but that has not been afforded to either side, so its going to be an interesting battle of who finds their feet first, he added.

New Zealand havent played a Test match since the World Cup, and a lot of things have changed for them since then, and there has been a little bit of time since our last game as well.

Weve now got a different look about our team. I have to say, a look that I am quite pleased with.

We are going to have to play for 80 minutes, and tackle and defend with courage and intensity. We made more than 250 tackles in Wellington a year ago, and we are going to have to cut out the basic errors that cost us in the Six Nations.

We lost a couple of games in the Six Nations and we were all very disappointed. We know the reasons why we lost, and I believe we know how to put them right.

We just want to get back to winning - thats what we are about.