Nick Cain discovers what England can expect in New Zealand

Jimmy Cowan has such an intimate knowledge of the workings of All Blacks that it’s surprising Steve Hansen hasn’t had him on a witness protection scheme during his two-year stint at Gloucester.
Cowan was capped 51 times by New Zealand during an eight-year international career which culminated in being part of the 2011 World Cup-winning campaign, and saw him overlap throughout with All Black icons Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
Cowan says that New Zealand coach Hansen will leave nothing to chance in hatching a strategy to send England home with a 3-0 whitewash to contemplate as host nation ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
“There will be a plan in place, that’s for certain. He’s a winner. He will have a plan of how he wants New Zealand to play – and how much he wants to give away before the World Cup.”
The task facing Stuart Lancaster’s tourists is made even more daunting by the way New Zealand have kicked on under Hansen over the last three years, including becoming the first international side to finish a season unbeaten.
Cowan says that they are comparable with the 2011 world champion side: “Last season’s unbeaten run was pretty remarkable, and if you look at their track record they are not far off. They are building really well with young guys like Aaron Smith, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea coming through in the backs. This season will be really tough for them after the achievement last year, but they have promising players coming through everywhere – with Malakai Fekitoa at the Highlanders the latest of them.”
The Gloucester scrum-half says that Hansen’s policy of nursing along players like McCaw, Keven Mealamu and Carter well into their 30s makes good sense.
“They are instrumental in how the All Blacks run – they are special individuals. It’s about how they mentor the young guys coming into the side by the way they work and behave as pros 24/7. It’s what you guys don’t see going on in the background that makes them so valuable.”

Having been Carter’s regular half-back partner, and a close mate, Cowan also has a unique insight into international rugby‘s record points-scorer.
“His work ethic is incredible. You all train Monday to Friday, but on his recovery day Dan will kick for two hours in the morning. Like Jonny Wilkinson, he leaves no stone unturned in preparation – he does his analysis on everyone, and everything. He also has a great balance in life: he knows when to switch on, and when to switch off. He is a remarkable individual.”
England will count their blessings that Carter’s sabbatical will rule him out of the series. However, he is not the only member of the team with whom Cowan has close links, with two of the three Smiths in the All Black squad – scrum-half Aaron and free-scoring wing/centre Ben – former team-mates at the Highlanders.
“Aaron has a big skillset, and he always had talent written all over him. His kicking game has come on, and he always had a great pass, but the big thing is the confidence he’s got now. I also played a lot with Ben. He’s been through thick and thin, and for five or six years we would always ask why he wasn’t in the top echelon – then he got his chance, and he’s away.”
Cowan says that England’s biggest problem next month might be fatigue as well as New Zealand’s firepower.
“The New Zealand team opens its international series in June, whereas the English boys are at the end of a long season, and for some of them there has been virtually no break because of the Lions tour last summer. At the end of all that, a trip to New Zealand is a hell of an ask. You have to give credit to Stuart Lancaster for the new culture he has built, including a depth which means that there are 40 to 50 players who could pull on the white jersey. But the the freshness of New Zealand will be the difference.”
Yet, his knowledge of the Premiership, and Gloucester, makes him doubtful that England will be over-awed physically.
“There’s physicality in the forwards. Both teams are similar in the way they play at the breakdown, and Lawes and Launchbury are big boys. They’ve also got size in the loose trio with Billy Vunipola. So there could be a bit of trouble for New Zealand there. But Test matches are decided on the day, and it will be about who gets ahead on the gain-line.”
He adds: “In terms of pace there are not many quicker guys than Jonny May in New Zealand, and in terms of physicality in the backs a guy like Billy Twelvetrees is the same size as Ma’a Nonu. It’s true that many of the Polynesians in New Zealand rugby are gifted athletes, but that doesn’t stop you getting there, it just means you have to work harder.”
Cowan, who is out of contract this summer and is contemplating a move to the Top 14, says that he is disappointed that England have been lumbered with an itinerary which dictates them playing their first Test without their strongest team.
“It’s not what you want to see in Test rugby – you want to see the two best sides going at each other.”
As for the outcome, suggest a 3-0 All Black clean-sweep and Cowan is cagey. “The first Test looks tough for England, but it will be a very competitive series. In the second and third they have a chance.”
What he will not say is that it hangs by a very fine thread.