Of the 27 All Blacks in the last squad that played England 6 were born outside NZ. Muliaina moved to NZ at 2, and the rest of the 6 all went to secondary school in NZ and rose through the NZ rugby system. In comparison 2 of the English squad were not born in England. It's not uncommon.

Peter, Dunedin, NZ

What an elegant articulate critical analysis and summary. Really a literary deconstruction of a failed England set up. But the visionless self interest of Baron, Andrew and RFU others will muddle on at the cost of another year of probable failure and humiliation

Dr Philip Cox, Weston s Mare, UK

I'm glad a Rugby Correspondent of Stephen Jones status is drawing attentioon to the current, woeful English coaching set-up. This includes Andrew, who, in the dual role of NZ Tour Manager, is culpable of many failings. He, for example, must be saked, totally, from his England position.

John Hill, Port Talbot, Wales

England's strength is forward domination and classy fly-halves who can kick field and drop goals. But if the forwards do not dominate the team invariably loses. The All Blacks by comparison go all out for a win. Both strategies are flawed because both teams do lose matches.

asasas, Hendon, UK

Budgie "maybe in four years time you will have all New Zealander players lining up for England"

Maybe in 4 years time YOU could have all New Zealanders in the South Sea Islanders -"ahem"- sorry, All Blacks Team.

Jonnyboy, Portsmouth, England

Look in a mirror Mr Badger. Read some of your countrymen's comments. We win, you bag us, we lose, you bag us more. The fact is our record speaks for itself. Winning against England, is not a surprise. France on the other hand...

JT, The Hague, The Netherlands

Even though the English have their own bad apples, I am constantly astonished at how New Zealand, a spectacular country with just marvellous people, can produce such arrogant and obnoxious blogs. Take a leaf from the Aussies guys, and learn to lose AND win and with some humility and class.

Andrew Badger, London,

Geez all my fellow kiwi commentators..... give it a rest will ya re "we are the best na na na na nah"! You wonder why the Brits love giving it to us when you all gleefully rub their noses in it. If Cardiff taught me anything it is to be humble in victory!!

Joseph Stafford, Blenheim, NZ

Unfortunately I was embarrassed it watch the ease at which NZ outclassed our hopeless midfield and defensive set up, at times it was school boy.

I fail to understand why Tait is playing for england, he has no step, cant beat anyone quicker than a lock and no position. Says it all really.

Anthony , Reading, England

Hodgson misses a tackle and gets fired. The new bulked up defence misses tackles and not a mention by Rob Andrew. No wonder confusion reigns in the England team. Johnson's got his work cut out : the new generation of Tait et al are already shell-shocked and disillusioned in their coaches. Help -

matthew, aylsham, uk

The England backline has been a problem for some time now. There is plenty of talent there but they really do need to have time together and consistent selections in order to operate. Too often players are receiving the ball standing still rather than at pace and it makes them look impotent.

Chris , San Francisco, USA

England were awful and embarassing on and off the field. It is tough to read where the AB's are based on these tests but my guess is that they are off the pace compared to SA + maybe a margin ahead of AUS

Encouraging signs from Tialata, Thompson, Nonu, Smith and Kahui. Carter back to his best

R Petersen, Wellington, New Zealand

Players you contstantly criticise for being too small - Care, Tait - had good games, the players you praise to the roof for being big and strong - Tindall, Stevens - were poor. New Zealand, who you criticise for being powder puffs, out muscled England. Just for once admit it - you were wrong!

ben, sydney, Australia

Henry Paul,Vinakola now maybe Riki Flutey plus all those new NZ born rugby players coming to England,maybe in four years time you will have all New Zealander players lining up for England,or will it just be called NZ [B] based in England
Come on Martin [after all, you have had the right education ]

Budgie, Napier, New Zealand

STEPHEN, this is horrible! Please stop writing such heavily-weighted, biased articles. If it is not on the superior scrummaging, Guiness Premiership, financial status of the Northern Hemisphere it is on the narrow-minded/ all too quiet Kiwi spectators. And now "Dear MARTIN" - how sycophantic!

Angus, Auckland, nz

Rugby moves quickly. Already the ABs are introducing players who will adapt best to the new ELVs and have discarded older more experienced players such as Collins, Masoe. I fear that Martin J is already "old school" and with little coaching experience, has he the vision to move with the times?

Angus, Auckland, nz

Care looks one of the more promising players... his enthusiasm overtook a clear head at times, or was he just playing to the instructions?! Several times he tapped penalties that would have been better kicking for goal or touch, but he has pace and his service was quicker than others.

Angus, Auckland, nz

What was England's "game-plan"?? - did they have one? Surely, it should have revolved around kicking for corners/ gaining lineout positions at every opportunity, where they had more than parity and tried a few more driven mauls from lineouts before unleashing their backs... poor coaching/ direction.

Angus, Auckland, nz

I worry for England, the new rules coming in on Aug 1st for the Northern Hemisphere sides, will go against the Current England team even more. England will need a backline more than ever, especially with Mauls being legally brought down now as soon as they are set up.

Gareth Thomas, Banwell,

England do have the players to take on NZ or anybody but we need to decide if these summer tours with lightweight teams do more harm than good. Maybe they should go as Saxons and admit what they really are? I suspect its about money for the unions but lets have less rugby of higher standard instead?

Matt Jackson, Bristol, United Kingdom

All true,Stephen Jones - about bloody time someone took the England set up to task. I agree ...... clear the decks of the whole pathetically predictable coaching set up and start again. Fortune favours the brave, Martin, be brave and kick this team up the backside. Make us proud to be English.

David A. Smith, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

A bit over the top in the man-love stakes but generally true. The state of your U20s suggests this is more than Johnson, or anyone, can handle. Maybe now its time to reduce the number of o/s players in your comps. There are no spaces for young players, hence NO development...and it shows

Dave, Auckland, NZ

I see you don't want to talk about poaching now that so many SH players are over here.

Ian, London, UK

Surely the first piece of advice to Martin Johnson should be: front up and watch your team play.

mack, auckland , new zealand

Well spoken Mr Jones,

We look forward to welcoming the results down this way in a couple of years

ag.musgrove, Wellington, NZ

England has 650.000 registered players, NZ has 150,000 yet All British teams including the lions have now played 100 tests in NZ and won 9. All Blacks in UK opposite stats. Most of them long before 10 month pro seasons and tired weakened teams etc. Face facts, were better at this game.

Brad, Auckland, New Zealand

We just sent a 2nd/ 3rd team to New Zealand and got beat. Many a first team share the distinction and in fact, the last team to win in New Zealand went on to lift the World Cup (2003). So what does this tell us? That an England second team won't win the World Cup? Calm down Steve.

James, Madrid, Spain

Dear Martin, don't look too hard at your U20's though. They just got thrashed 38-3 by NZ as well.

Rhys, Christchurch, New Zealand

As adult reading this is embarrassing. It has to assumed that Jone's target audience is one of an assembly of school boys.

Edwin Davy, Nanaimo, Canada

Agree totally except the weaknesss also obvious in midfield not just 2nd row. Captaincy is key and Steve B is not the man - too easilly knocked backwards yesterday, surely has to be one of the 3 young backrowers?

simon, Ipswich, UK

Well said Stephen Jones, but it was a long time in coming! at last some honesty and humility into the melting pot.

Start selecting players that are serious about fitness, and commitment to the shirt, and that will truly give 100%.
And time to look at the tactics and style of rugby too!

Phillip Jones, Swansea, Wales

The performances by England were particularly disapointing considering that it was against a mediocre All Black team in a period of transition themselves. Unfortunately it again seemed as though there was no direction in terms of the manner in which we played!

Darren Fowlie, Norwich, England

Absolute drivel. Proven, pragmatic players like whom; Mears, Borthwick, Noon, Varndell, Wigglesworth? Stephen if you actually watch rugby you will have noticed that the best players of recent years Du Preez, Giteau, Carter, Robinson, D'arcy, Williams, Sivivatu and Habana have one thing in common.

Benjamin Saunders, Beckenham,

Even now you citisise Danny Care - one of the bright young sparks along with Tait who is another you consider too small. I can only assume you think everyone should be a forward - back play is about creativity and pace as much as power -and hopefully we have seen the last of such centre partnerships

Chris, Surrey,

I'm tired of the excuses of "exhausted players" at the end of their season coming down under moaning they are worn out as an excuse for their consistent under performing.

Do you hear Southern hemisphere teams moaning about this when they turn up in November and perform after their 10 month season

Phil Taylor, Wellington, NZ

Honesty at last on the poor state of the English team! But one key point missed - English rugby may be awash with cash, but it will do nothing for the national team while more and more foreign talent is bought by clubs. Look no furher than football, with the demise of England since the EPL took off.

Lindsay Mouat, Auckland, New Zealand

The facts of the last past 12 months is of the World Champions who defended their title in the final but lost and a squad that finished 2nd in the 6 Nations. Mr. Jones is correct to dislike the process and the back room bungling but he cant ignore the results. More objectivity helps us all.

Anthony, Dubai, UAE

So the English are rubbish Steve? Took an astute rugby mind like yours a long time to find out. I seem to remember you panning the Super 12/14 as airy-fairy.Well you have been proved wrong again mate.The AB's had to adjust to the old rules too.
I can't wait for the end of year tour.
Bring it on.

Gerry Portegys, Tokoroa, New Zealand

"all I have heard is about 20 minutes per conference of bleating and clutching at silly straws"

Heh. Seems the English press conferences share much with Stephen Jones' articles on the team and their games.

enzer, Dunedin,

Absolutely spot on. It staggers me that Mike Ford complains about England's defence being poor, thus failing to appreciate that his comments only serve to highlight the fact he is rubbish at his job. The sooner Rob Andrew disappears from public view and never gets near an England team, the better.

JD, Brisbane, Australia

Man what a pathetic bleat - you talk about facing facts, but the simple fact is that England does not currently have the quality of players to compete with New Zealand or South Africa. One ex-great who has virtually no top level coaching experience is not going to change that.

Harry Stevenson, Wellington, New Zealand