England's prop Phil Vickery is well aware of the danger that John Mitchell's young side present at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Gloucester stalwart is refusing to believe all the hype that says England are overwhelming favourites to beat the All Blacks in their first clash since 1999.

"I know their coach John Mitchell and the players he has selected, and they are more than capable of getting a result," said Vickery.

"What better challenge can you respond to than your boss saying that this is a chance to prove yourself for the World Cup?

"Of course New Zealand will be strong, and if we are not operating at 100, then we will be beaten - simple as that.

"A group of players with no pressure on them, other than just going out to do it and play, are a dangerous animal. We have to be very, very careful."

Fly-half and fellow vice-captain Jonny Wilkinson, like Vickery a survivor of when it last all went horribly wrong for England against New Zealand - a 30-16 World Cup defeat three years ago - recites an equally cautious tale.

"New Zealand are still a phenomenal team," he said.

"They have enormous strength in depth, can pick and choose and maybe run a team on the basis of horses for courses and give players a certain job to do. They certainly have got some talent, as we've seen from previous years.

"They have never been far away from first or second in the world. Even when they are developing or building, they just don't lose games.

"They may have lost the likes of Ian Jones and Craig Dowd, but between the guys leaving and others stepping up, there hasn't been a drop in form. They get it right and keep the balance, and that's the scary thing about them."