New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson is confident he can lead his team to a Grand Slam tour this autumn ahead of their showdown with England this weekend. 

The All Blacks have won both their games so far this month, beating Ireland in Chicago 26-13 before withstanding a late push from Scotland to emerge 25-17 victors. 

But their toughest test awaits at Twickenham on Saturday against an England side who have won their last nine matches, their best run in men's Test rugby since an 18-game streak from 2015 to 2017.

England have, however, failed to beat New Zealand at home since a 38-21 victory in December 2012, a stretch of four matches, which includes three defeats and one draw. 

Robertson has endured an indifferent start to life as the All Blacks boss since replacing Ian Foster from the start of last year.

He has won 19 of his 25 matches in charge (six defeats), and the 51-year-old is relishing the chance of overseeing his team's mouth-watering clash with England. 

"It's at the so-called home of rugby, with a full house and an expectant English team," he tells the Rugby Union Weekly podcast from the All Blacks' team hotel.

"We want a Grand Slam; they want to take our scalp. How good is footy?

"This is why I'm doing the job and that's where the enjoyment starts. There is a fine balance – you feel like you are never satisfied, but you love it."

We get it done at Murrayfield pic.twitter.com/svTrtf3LSZ

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 8, 2025

With a host of All Blacks greats leaving the international stage since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand are still in a state of transition under Robertson.

Across Robertson's game in charge, there have been a mix of results, with one of the highs seeing them extend their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 51 matches after downing South Africa in their Rugby Championship Test back in September. 

The All Blacks then suffered their heaviest defeat to the same opposition a week later, losing 43-10, which surpassed another 35-7 defeat to the Springboks at Twickenham, in a warm-up fixture ahead of the 2023 World Cup. 

New Zealand have won their last four matches, but optimism surrounding Robertson's team has dwindled somewhat, though the coach is confident they are going in the right direction.

"In its entirety, we've had some great results, and we've fought back from some great adversity," Robertson added.

"We've played some really good footy and exposed 20 debutants over the past two years. We've got a lot of guys who have stepped up, and we feel we have a good foundation."

Despite their struggles, New Zealand are still ranked second in the world, with the squad boasting superstars such as Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Beauden Barret and Will Jordan.

And according to Robertson, the group is determined to make the most of a rare chance to play all four home nations in consecutive weekends.

"It just keeps giving," Robertson says about the end-of-year tour.

"You have 13 Test matches in a year, and every week [is huge]. You beat the All Blacks and you've had a great year. So every team [wants the scalp].

"So you have got to embrace it. How do you take all that expectation and turn it into joy? That's the art of coaching."