The countdown commences

All week we read of historic victories over the All Blacks and how to beat them from the wiseacres. For me this is the wrong approach and only highlighting their aura of invincibility.

That great producer of results Brian Clough would get the team totally drunk, tell them to play their natural game and convince them the All Blacks are not invincible.

That is how his Nottingham Forest team beat Liverpool.

We read that the All Blacks have never lost when Nigel Owens referees their game and England have never beaten them in a World Cup.

Forget the records!

Concentrate on what got England to the semi finals: the work rate of Sam Underhill and Tom Curry: the all round game of Owen Farrell; the try scoring of Jonny May; the scrummaging of Joe Marler: the virtuosity of Maro Itoje; the way George Ford can run a game.

Never mind Elliot Daly’s vulnerability as the last line of defence and Ben Youngs’ attempts to emulate Clive Rowlands … any thing can happen in a one-off game.

The crucial lesson is not to make mistakes and play your way.

Bring it on!