rugby union By Amanda Little

Last updated 05:32, Friday, 13 June 2008

CUMBRIAN Steve Borthwick could join an exclusive England club in Auckland tomorrow.

Captain marvel: Steve Borthwick takes part in a training session at North Harbour Stadium, earlier this week. ‘We know we are going to have to be at the very best of our game against the All Blacks,’ says the Carlisle-born skipper

The Bath lock will lead England into battle against New Zealand at Eden Park knowing that history is stacked against them recording a famous victory.

Only two previous England captains have triumphed at the All Blacks’ expense on New Zealand soil – John Pullin (1973) and Martin Johnson (2003).

It is a tall order for Borthwick, especially as England have travelled without players like Danny Cipriani, Jonny Wilkinson, Paul Sackey, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw and Lewis Moody.

But Borthwick, 28, has belief his squad can shape up against an All Blacks outfit playing for the first time since their World Cup demise last October.

He said: “The players here have been playing in the highest level of our domestic competition, and I believe we are a very strong squad.

“We’ve got high-calibre players throughout the squad, and every one of them is eager for this opportunity.

“We know we are going to have to be at the very best of our game against the All Blacks in these two Tests in Auckland and Christchurch.

“I think the onus of the players is to get on and do the best we can and play to the very best of our ability.”

The 2007 World Cup finalists will start as underdogs.

England have only beaten New Zealand six times in 29 attempts, with just two of those wins being away from home.

And England have failed to score a try during their last three Tests in New Zealand, a sequence that stretches back to 1998, when Matt Dawson touched down during a40-10 defeat in Auckland during the so-called “tour from hell.”

Borthwick added: “I think there is always this evolution of players, and I think this squad here is picked on merit.

“Rob (Andrew), Martin Johnson (England manager) and everybody involved has set a great future up for English rugby, so it’s a really exciting time to be involved.

“To be down in New Zealand for these two Tests is particularly exciting. This is probably the biggest challenge you can have as a professional rugby player.

“It is not often that we get the opportunity to come down here and play in New Zealand.

“We were here in 2004 and 2003 and there has been a break since we were last here, so it’s an opportunity for every one of us to come down here and challenge ourselves against some of the very best in the world.”