England have already sprung one early surprise as they prepare to welcome New Zealand to a packed Twickenham this weekend. Few outside the camp expected to hear the Bob Dylan song Like a Rolling Stone booming across their training ground on a damp Monday lunchtime but maybe the urgent choruses of “How does it feel?” were a quiet nod towards the big questions the squad needs to answer this autumn.
England’s ability to turn narrow defeats into victories, settle on their best starting combinations and overcome their summer coaching upheaval all sit high on the list, just behind their primary objective of ending a rollercoaster year on an upward curve. A minimum of three wins from their four Tests against the All Blacks, Australia, South Africa and Japan will be required for a feelgood vibe to take proper hold.
