Defending champions New Zealand will put their remarkable recent Rugby World Cup record on the line when they take on England in Yokohama on Saturday.

Not since that dark day in Cardiff in 2007 have the All Blacks suffered a defeat in the global tournament. Successes in 2011 and 2015, which saw them claim the title without losing a match, have followed, but many believe that this Red Rose squad are capable of ending that incredible run.

Physical and athletic up front, with creativity and pace behind the scrum, there is no doubting that Eddie Jones’ men are a threat to the southern hemisphere outfit.

Steve Hansen’s charges are still playing the best rugby in the competition, while their skill sets throughout the team are superior to that of their opponents, but it may just be a good match-up for England.

For perhaps the first time over the past decade – or possibly even longer – the English have more out-and-out power in the side than their counterparts. There is no Ma’a Nonu, no Julian Savea, no Sonny Bill Williams – although he is on the bench – starting in the backs or a Jerome Kaino-type player in the forwards.

Yes, Hansen has excellent carriers at his disposal in Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett and skipper Kieran Read, while Ardie Savea is rather a physical freak and Sevu Reece punches above his weight, but none in the shape of Manu Tuilagi or Billy Vunipola, who can get their team over the gain line, even in traffic. Their mere presence has often opened the space for their pacey outside backs too, with Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly profiting from the focus on Tuilagi and Vunipola.

It is therefore all about the speed of ball for New Zealand. Aaron Smith was utterly magnificent against Ireland and his razor-sharp service allowed the playmaking duo of Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett to weave their magic.

Smith is one of the best communicators around and his organising and cajoling of the forwards enables them to remain on the front foot. The scrum-half also has a skilful pack ahead of him, whose little tip-ons keep defences guessing, and it is why Hansen’s charges are so difficult to contain.

England have, to their credit, developed their game, with Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler very gifted passers, while the back five of the scrum can, at times, replicate what the All Blacks do, but they will by design be more conservative.

‘Kamikaze Kids’ Tom Curry and Sam Underhill are comfortable with ball in hand too, but their job is to smash New Zealand back behind the gain line and slow them down at the contact area. If they can do that enough then it will make Smith’s job far more difficult and give the Red Rose half-backs a chance of controlling territory with their kicking game.

Ultimately, however, the All Blacks are playing so well and are so comfortable in what they are trying to achieve that it will be mightily difficult for this impressive English team to halt their surge towards a third successive title.

Players to watch:

For England: There has been one significant change to their line-up and it sees fly-half George Ford come back into the XV. Following plenty of criticism leading into the tournament, Ford has more than justified his place in the 23 and has arguably been the Red Rose’s best player. The pivot has kicked well out of hand, controlled the backline calmly and dovetails nicely with Owen Farrell in the playmaking axis, but can he unlock this New Zealand defence?

For New Zealand: It has to be Kieran Read, who we doubted heading into the World Cup and following their opening game against South Africa, but he answered those critics in the quarter-final. Read was athletic, powerful and skilful as he consistently got the All Blacks over the advantage line, while his leadership was also excellent. Steve Hansen will want the same from his main man but Kyle Sinckler and Courtney Lawes enjoyed smashing him backwards in the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour, and another week presents another challenge for the New Zealand legend.

Head-to-head: The All Blacks dissected the English lineout following the introduction of Scott Barrett during their game in November and the Crusaders man starts this weekend. No doubt, they will once again look to target the Red Rose set-piece, which only includes two out-and-out jumpers in Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes compared to the four of New Zealand. Lineout leader George Kruis is on the bench which means there is significant pressure on Tom Curry as the third jumping option. According to the England coaches, he has improved in that area but they will be facing the best set-piece defence in the world. However, should they get parity then Curry could have a bit more of an edge at the breakdown. Barrett is a hugely physical and skilful player and is not just in the side for his lineout work, but the presence of England’s fetcher duo may well give them an advantage at the contact area.