New Zealand wing Ruby Tui is convinced “something special” will happen when they face England in the first game at the newly named Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The stadium at Twickenham has been renamed under a new sponsorship deal confirmed by the Rugby Football Union last month.
Next weekend’s Test match is the second warm-up game before the Red Roses travel to WXV1 in Canada, after a 38-19 victory over France at Kingsholm Stadium last Saturday.
“It’s world champions versus world number one,” Tui told BBC Sport. “My mouth is watering.”
New Zealand were the last side to beat England, securing a dramatic victory in the World Cup final in 2022, although John Mitchell’s side gained some revenge by defeating them in Auckland to win last year’s WXV tournament.
The two sides have a long history, meeting in five World Cup finals, with the Black Ferns winning them all.
And Tui, in the starting line-up for New Zealand’s 2022 World Cup final victory on home territory at Auckland’s Eden Park, has nothing but respect for England.
“I’ve got to admit the Red Roses are a very special team. They have carried a lot of tradition with them,” the New Zealand wing added.
“In order to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Let’s go play England, let’s go over to the northern side of the world in their home and let’s give it a crack, let’s have some fun, let’s get out there. I want to play tomorrow.”
The 32-year-old became a household name at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, not just for her gold medal-winning performance with the women’s sevens team, but her colourful and honest interview, external with BBC Sport’s Jill Douglas that went viral.
Tui has now retired from sevens and committed to XVs and is aware of the potential that the 2025 World Cup in England has for the Red Roses and for rugby.
“It’s going to be epic,” she added. “I just hope we all take this opportunity with two hands.
“It was amazing what happened in New Zealand, but we’re taking it back to where rugby began so let’s do it, let’s put on an awesome show.”
