Sean Fitzpatrick

Sean Fitzpatrick says England can stop the All Blacks

That is the view of former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick, who says that while England can be one of the main threats at next year's showpiece event in Japan, it depends how they fare against South Africa, the All Blacks, Japan and Australia next month.

England coach Eddie Jones is due to announce his squad for the Twickenham tests tomorrow but his plans have been hit by a string of injuries to key players like forwards Billy and Mako Vunipola, Chris Robshaw and Joe Launchbury.

The All Blacks have created a gulf in world rugby, says Sean Fitzpatrick

The All Blacks won the Rugby Championship with two rounds to spare after beating the Boks 41-13 in Christchurch while the Wallabies halted Argentina in Perth later in the day.

Fox Sports reports New Zealand players are centrally contracted to the national side, with the NZRU having the ultimate say in player conditioning and welfare, and the 92-Test international believes it is allowing the All Blacks to create a gulf between them and the rest of world rugby.