Win could prompt Cup error

One of the biggest regrets I had as England captain was being denied the chance to lead out the team against New Zealand on their own soil.

I have never been given an explanation why the tour schedule stopped England travelling to face the All Blacks during my career.

It's incredible that great players of the 1990s such as Jerry Guscott, Dean Richards, Mike Teague, Wade Dooley and Brian Moore were never seen in an England jersey in those marvellous Test venues of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin. What a missed opportunity.

That is why I am so envious of Martin Johnson and his team, who will face the mighty All Blacks in Wellington tomorrow. How exciting is it for any England player to be involved in such a huge match and I have no doubt that one of these two teams will emerge as the World Cup winners in Australia in November. It's a brilliant match-up with the Grand Slam champions of the Northern Hemisphere taking on the country that recently dominated the Super 12 competition, supplying both finalists. This is easily the most compelling sporting occasion this summer, as far as I am concerned, but as there are still five months to go to the World Cup final, the actual result may not be as important as many think.

There will still be plenty of time for injuries to key players or even significant changes in their form to affect the World Cup line-ups. However, my old mate Sean Fitzpatrick, the former All Black captain, believes differently. He insists the game holds huge importance in New Zealand, not for the match itself, but more for the reaction it could provoke.

His belief is that a defeat, even in this one-off affair, would precipitate such a media outcry that John Mitchell, the New Zealand coach, might well be forced into a more conservative selection for the World Cup - picking Andrew Mehrtens ahead of Carlos Spencer at No10.

This would amount to more than merely swapping two very talented stand-offs. More significantly, it would mean a completely different approach and style of rugby - a style that might well allow England to triumph in the World Cup. Fitzpatrick's belief is that New Zealand need to learn and replicate Auckland's brand of rugby if they are to triumph in Australia and win the Cup for the first time since 1987.

That style revolves around the brilliance and playing style of the Auckland No10, Spencer. If they are defeated tomorrow and conservatism wins the day, in the shape of Mehrtens and his boot, they will ultimately fail when facing the might of the English pack in Sydney.

England approach tomorrow's match with an outstanding pack of forwards, the best tight five in world rugby, and the only great leader, Martin Johnson, in the game today. Johnson's presence on the pitch, his part in the build-up to big games and his decision-making are all crucial to England's success. Around him England have huge experience among the forwards and must maximise this advantage against comparatively inexperienced opposition.

The All Blacks must also find someone who can throw consistently into the line-out, something they have failed to do since Fitzpatrick retired.