The rugby World Cup might be two years away but England's clash against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday (November 16) is a significant waymarker for both sides' psychological approach to the 2015 tournament.

New Zealand ended a 24-year wait for a second World Cup triumph when they emerged victorious on home soil in 2011 and, under the new management of Steve Hansen, they have continued to dominate global rugby.

The only blot on the landscape since their triumph in Auckland is last year's 38-21 thrashing by England and they will be desperate to avenge that record defeat on Saturday as they seek to complete 2013 with 13 wins from as many matches.

That win was also of huge importance for Stuart Lancaster's England, who were at a low ebb having lost previous home games to Australia and South Africa but were then able to go away and plan for the Six Nations full of confidence that, on their day, they were a match for anyone.

The All Blacks fear nobody in the game, least of all anyone from Europe, but another defeat on Saturday would really plant a seed of doubt in terms of the World Cup, with the final at Twickenham in 2015.

Significant as it may be, Saturday's match is only the first of five between the two teams over the next 13 months as England tour New Zealand in June before the All Blacks return to Twickenham next November.

New Zealand are likely to have much the better of those games and could quite easily win them all.

However, if England can get to them, and stop them playing the way they want to play while improving their own game all the time, the psychological advantage might just be theirs should they meet again for the ultimate prize in 2015.

Presented by Adam Justice