How will England fare against All Blacks?

After conquering the Test series against Wallabies for the first time in Australia, we take a look on how this England team will fare against the defending champions All Blacks.

New Zealand are comfortably placed at the top of the World Rugby Rankings with 96.10 points and showed they are a dominant force in the sport after conquering the 2015 World Cup and also defeating Wales in the ongoing series.

On the other hand, England under Eddie Jones have been on an unbeaten streak after winning the Grand Slam for the first time in 13 years and also registering their maiden Test series victory in Australia, which saw them climb to the second position in the rankings.

HOW GOOD ARE ENGLAND?

Toppling Australia in Melbourne has lifted them to second in the world rankings and it is a position they deserve, a Grand Slam and series victory in Australia - who they have usurped in the global rankings - identifying them as the main threat to New Zealand.

WHEN WILL THEY FACE THE ALL BLACKS?

Sadly, due to a frustrating quirk of the scheduling system, they will not meet the world champions until November 2017 at the earliest. Having played them four times in 2014 alone and on six occasions in the last four years, they must now wait to test themselves against Steve Hansen's all-conquering world champions.

The autumn fixtures for next year are still in the process of being arranged and it is conceivable that New Zealand's next visit to Twickenham will be as far away as 2018.

SO WOULD ENGLAND WIN?

Much can change between now and when they do eventually meet, but given the remarkable rate of improvement engineered by Jones there is no reason why they could not issue a statement of intent ahead of Japan 2019 by dispatching the All Blacks. Certain areas will have to be addressed, however.

WHAT AREAS ARE THOSE?

England's key issue, as recognised by Jones, is the lack of consistency from game to game - other than the result. In Brisbane they were found wanting defensively, but in attack they scored some fine tries.

Fast forward seven days and their attack was non-existent, yet defensively they were magnificent. And the line-out and scrum are every bit as unpredictable. Jones has called for England to deliver a complete, 80-minute performance in Sydney on Saturday knowing that if they are to dethrone New Zealand, that is what will be required.

WHAT ELSE WILL THEY HAVE TO ADDRESS?

Restarts have been poor in this series and Jones views the ball-carrying of the All Blacks forwards as being on a different level.

As always the breakdown will be key and while England have developed rapidly in this area, seeing off Australian masters David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the process, their decision-making, discipline and intensity will have to improve against New Zealand.

The Grand Slam champions have shown an ability to take their chances under Jones and this must continue if they are to become world champions.

AND WHAT WILL CONCERN THE ALL BLACKS?

England's pack now bristles with aggression and is willing to be confrontational in a way that was absent under Stuart Lancaster.

They are niggly and spiteful and New Zealand will know they face a battle up-front. Maro Itoje is a forward of frightening potential, Dylan Hartley is proving a fine Test captain and Owen Farrell is rapidly becoming the most dead-eyed kicker in the game, so any ill-discipline is certain to be punished.

And as the defensive display in Melbourne has proved, they are team willing to put their bodies on the line for the cause.