absolutely agree with other posts regarding 'size'. what is it with jones and weight? it looks like the england team spend too much time in the gym, all pumped up but no talent. sheridan is but one example.

mark rogers, dubai,

Never ceases to amaze me how cocky Nzers can get and how crappy e/body else is to NZ teams - all suffer inferority complexes.
Engalnd played to their strengths 20 mins at start and from end, AB's did same for 2x20 min periods and then tried playing touch Rugby.
This week should be good

Mark Whelan, Auckland, New Zealand

Gosh- the Powder Puff Super 14s produce a team that physically outmuscled their Northern Hemisphere compadres. How did that happen?

Gazza, Sydney,

Jones, would it be correct to assume that you believe end of season tours such as england's current should not take place?
England are tired after a blistering season? A poor excuse tagged onto a poor team with poor management who are poor losers.

Best stay at home and rest next time, poor things

Macsen Wledig, Thurles,

Care must start! the tempo immediately picked up when he came on. Wigglesworth should never pull on an England shirt again. I would definately play Richards ahead of him.

Tiger, Oxford,

"White shirted Orks on drugs" was the charge levelled against England a few years back. Seems to me that most of the extra's in the "rings trilogy" might be playing for the AB's...And you lot are still moaning about Wayne Barnes...Grow up eh...

Blocky, Chelmsford,

England should build a bridge and get over their loss to The All Blacks.
They played dumb rugby, pure and simple.
Rob Andrew dosen't help the English cause either, just a whinger.

Micha, Palmerston North, New Zealand

This is what Eng retreats to whenever they get handed a bad result. From memory, the team that out performed NZ the most in the last 10 is Aust when they had skilful, smart players like Horan, Little and of course the fantastic John Eales. None were huge. It takes more than muscle you think?

Shon Davies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

I agree with all of the below comments, Sheridan was strong for 10/15 mins, average for the remainder, along with the majority of the england team. The key difference for me is the huge intensity the AB's play at, and the agrression they have in the tackle and breakdown areas, they were awsome.

Nick, cheltenham, UK

The English Scrum was as usual seriously over-rated. This All Black smashing must be really embarissing for little Stevie Jones. The AB's smashed them playing the old rules, he must be terrrified of what the AB's we will do when they play his woeful, pedestrian England under the new rules.

Sean, Dublin, Ireland

NZ being the best international rugby side between World Cups is like being good at the coursework and failing in the exam.

There, there. We know how much you want it, you can't fool us. And now that you have home advantage again after all these years, maybe the dream will come true.

Martin, London,

Stephen
Why, year after year, column after column, are the English always "exhausted" or "tired" or "denuded" or a combination of them all. Season after season they are always "exhausted" etc. I know this cannot be an excuse for lame performances. Tell me why.

Marty, Wellington, NZ

With the exception of 2003, these annual summer tours are disrespectful to opposition and supporters alike. Every year we take 3rd string sides to play in the Southern Hemisphere and get walloped. We should stay at home and rest so we are competative in the Autumn and win more respect down under.

Matt Jackson, Bristol, United Kingdom

Sorry Jonesy, you're off on some of this.

Noon and Tindall would be the same as bashing two flankers in there. Get Flood in at 10, a far more aggressive player than people seem to give him credit for, Barclay the 12 shirt and Noon the 13. Balance of power, pace and creativity.

James Cullup, Oxford,

mr jones

some facts for you:

conrad smith 95 kgs
olly barkley 92 kgs
matt tait 90 kgs
matt giteau 85kgs

john winter, bath,

Sheridan by many in England is considered massively over rated. We saw Saturday what many see in the GP week in week out that up against anyone with a hint of scrummageing technique that being able to bench press a small house counts for very little.

Stuart, London,

Oh, how short is the memory and one-eyed the comment from 'Barry' of Auckland - were you not watching how your reveres All Blacks scored at least one of their tries? The small matter of a blatant forward pass...
No mention of the referee being at fault on Saturday, eh?

Tim, North Shore, New Zealand

SIze is a red herring. Is Carter big? No. But he has all of the right skills. Is Tuitavake? No. But he went out and nailed Tindall (who is big!) is the first backs collision of the match.

Evidence shows mental toughness is the critical difference in elite sport. England lacked it last week

Grant C, Dubai, UAE

Come on Jonesy, meet like with like, Tindall and Noon vs Smith and Nonu, The only way your backs will meet like with like is if you start selecting all the ex Allblacks collecting their pension in the UK/France.

Paul, Ohope, NewZealand

The Pom's biggest selection blunder was the omission of Wayne Barnes.

Barry , Auckland,

The England lineout totally dominated and should not be tampered with too quickly. NZ fell off in the last 10 not due to the impact of Kay or others but because Cowan failed to read the game including feeding into the wrong side of the scrum, blowing an overlap, missing tackles and passing poorly.

Dave, Auckland, NZ

Well at least England had the decency to let New Zealand play their game and win. They took a good old kicking so the New Zealand fans and the neutrals got a spectacle. Rather then England fronting up, putting it to New Zealand and winning ugly ala Muster v Toulouse? Hey Stephen!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul, London,

The all blacks will live with any other sides power game and take them on in the power stakes. If you want to beat new zealand then you will have to be more subtle working with a combination of skill, pace and power.Why does everyone in the NH believe they have a superior power game to the SH.

rooster, North Berwick, Scotland

Mr Jones.

What of the World's best prop Mr Sheridan. Where is your criticism of him for another lacklustre performance against the ABs.

In fact I don't think he has ever produced a world class performance against the ABs

Geoff, Wellington, New Zealand

Ahhh...normal transmission resumes. Would I exchange places with an England fan who has to watch 4 years of dross ands then play a style that suits a 4 week tournament or a team which gives endless entertainment but can't adapt to the 4 weeks? Easy choice really. Roll on the ELVs.

PD, Auckland, NZ

Congratulations England for your wonderful start. It was to be expected. However, the skill level between the two sides was certainly noticeable. The handling by the All Blacks was far superior. Take out the two opportunist tries and the score would have been a huge embarrassment to England.

Kevin Jones, KihiKihi, New Zealand

Yah - the AB's did it again, & what is it with Sheridan??? We thought he was going to add some magic to the English side and maybe give the AB forward pack a good old fashioned go - nope!!! Bring on next Saturday in Christchurch - as the English rugby jersey says "02" :)

Fi, Palmerston North, NZ

It would be good to see Hartley and Kay starting in the pack. The advantage of playing Tait at full-back is the Noon-Flood-Tait understanding. Tindall has to go if we want more tries and a functional back three. Varndell is the nation's top try scorer - enough said.

Tony Gold, London, England

"Compared to some of the bright young things who have appeared in England in the fly-half position of late (excluding Danny Cipriani) Hodgson is so consummately superior, notably in terms of tactical nous, kicking game and generalship, that comparisons are brutal." said Stephen Jones

Phil, Westland, NZ

Have followed with interest Mr Jones' comments over the years.The All Blacks will always be the best international side between World Cups,England will always scrape together a bunch of battle scarred dray horses posing as rugby forwards to contest and produce decent results at Word Cups.

Gerry Portegys, Tokoroa, New Zealand

Poor deluded Stephen. Size and power and tough driving tight forwards only exist in the Northern hemisphere. And, when the All Blacks arn't arrogant, they're smug!!!! After regaling us with Wayne Barnes being the be all and end all of referees,he, all of a sudden, is an expert on forward passes!!!

Adrian Firmin, Wanganui, NZ

Despite the continual write up of Sheridan as a powerhouse prop on his performances in this country he is an overated powder puff.

Bob, Wellington, New Zealand

The English pack was only 5kg lighter. And your big hero, Sheridan, was excellent for the first ten minutes, but then faded. Maybe it's fitness that's the key. Size, size, size, that's all you ever blab on about, but 5kg over eight men is hardly worth mentioning.

Simon, Melbourne, Australia

Stephen Jones in dreamland as usual. Varndell may be big but he tackles by flailing his hands around. Croft is lighter than Narraway - he's a beanpole. Tait is heavier than Brown and gives away less than 2 stone to Nonu. If they play Noon and Tindall the back 3 will never get the ball anyway.

Simon Carter, London,

A rush defence, not a lateral drift, is the most effective weapon against a large NZ backline. Look at the most successful team against the All Blacks - South Africa always adopt this type of defence. Sort it out Ford, better still, pay the bucks for Edwards and let England rip in.

Pommy John, Brisbane, Australia