NEW ZEALAND legend Sean Fitzpatrick reckons rugby needs a dust-up between England and the All Blacks.
RFU bigwigs are talking to Kiwi officials about a November showdown between the teams ranked No 1 and No 2 in the world.
Twickenham chief executive Ian Ritchie is refusing to meet the World Cup-winners’ demand for £6million — half the proceeds from a 82,000 sell-out at HQ — to squeeze the game into their schedule instead of waiting until 2018.
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But former New Zealand captain Fitzpatrick, 53, said: “I would love to see it, love it.
“There’s a want for the All Blacks game and after the success of England of late, it is adding fuel to it.
“I’m a real fan of seeing international rugby played by the best teams in the world.
“And the style of rugby they are both playing makes it very appealing.
“I don’t think it would do any harm to anyone seeing it.
“Both teams want to judge themselves against the best and they need these challenges.
“Hopefully it will happen — and if it does, you will see two of the best teams in the world and two of the best coaches in the world.”
Eddie Jones’ Six Nations-winners will pass the world-record 18-game winning run they share with the Kiwis by beating Ireland on Saturday.
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But their next head-to-head meeting with the All Blacks is not until autumn 2018.
New Zealand already have three Tests against the Lions this summer and face Australia, South Africa and Argentina in the Southern Hemisphere’s Rugby Championship before travelling to play France, Scotland and Wales on November 11, 18 and 25.
But the All Blacks are also pencilled in for a match against the Barbarians in London on November 4.
The RFU could gazump the Baa Baas to let the Red Rose face New Zealand instead.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: “I don’t care when we play — but we’re not scheduled to play.
“So if we are going to play them, we’re going to have to find a way to do that. Give us half their stadium or something, that would be good.”
The two countries have not met since November 2014 when the All Blacks came from behind to win 24-21 at Twickenham. Fitzpatrick added: “It’s now almost getting back to the way it used to be and that’s what is nice about it — the anticipation.
“I’m not saying that it hasn’t been like that in the past but it has been less because they played each other so often.
“What England have achieved in the last 15 months is quite phenomenal.
“To go 18 consecutive games undefeated is a phenomenal record.
“We have always said that England have had the players and have had the talent. It was just a matter of turning the switch on.
“To win week in, week out brings huge pressure because every team is trying to knock you off that perch.
“England now have players coming off the bench who are as good as those starting. And that is the same strength that the All Blacks have.
“You think of how many games the All Blacks have won in the last ten or 20 minutes with their bench. And you are seeing just that from England.”
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