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Stuart Lancaster: 'We must maintain high level'

Lancaster: 'We must maintain high level'
© PA Photos
England boss Stuart Lancaster calls on the team to remain focused after their surprise victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

England boss Stuart Lancaster has insisted that the team must remain focused following their surprise victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

Lancaster's side recorded a 38-21 victory over the world champions at the weekend, breaking the All Blacks' unbeaten run of 20 matches.

"It's the highest point, isn't it? We've played the world champions, who were unbeaten in 20 matches, and we've put in a performance that has beaten them fair and square," Lancaster told Sky Sports News.

"To put that type of performance under that sort of pressure after the scrutiny of the last two weeks, is fantastic really. It was less than 11 months ago we changed the direction of travel for England rugby, to build a team for the future but also wanting to win in the here and now.

"Sometimes it takes a win to show that and the most pleasing thing is it has given a clear view of the direction we are going. We have got to make sure we back up now. As a coaching team we're far too pragmatic and I'm far too Cumbrian to allow that to happen.

"I'm already thinking how we're going to plan for the pre-Six Nations camp in Leeds and how we're going to maintain this standard. We've got to make sure we hit that level in Six Nations."

England's win over New Zealand followed defeats to South Africa and Australia in the autumn Test internationals.

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England's coach Stuart Lancaster during the match against South Africa on November 24, 2012
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