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Joe Launchbury warns England of New Zealand threat

Wasps lock Joe Launchbury urges England to get "stuck in" against New Zealand.

Wasps lock Joe Launchbury has warned England not to pay New Zealand too much reverence when the two sides meet at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 21-year-old played for the England Under-20s side that lost 33-22 to the Baby Blacks in the Junior World Cup final, a result he attributes to having too much respect for the opposition.

"The Baby Blacks had never been beaten and they had won the trophy easily at every Junior World Cup," he said.

"It wasn't until we got out there and played our game that we realised we could turn these guys over. By the time we noticed, the chance had maybe gone.

"The respect we gave them in that game was a bit too much. New Zealand rugby is held in high regard but they are 15 men on the rugby field."

Launchbury went on to say that England should get "stuck in" against the All Blacks from the off.

"I would like to think we would get stuck in right from the start," he added.

"If you let the All Blacks juggernaut get rolling then it will be hard to stop. We have to impose what we want to do on them."

England go into Saturday's game having lost their last two matches against South Africa and Australia.

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