Rugby Autumn internationals: New Zealand boss Graham Henry claims the Twickenham factor makes a mockery of suggestions England will be crushed by the All Blacks on Sunday.

The world champions have been decimated by injuries which, coupled with a run of five successive defeats, point to a comprehensive All Blacks win.

Bookies have installed England as underdogs and it is hard to see beyond the world rankings' kingpins putting Martin Corry and his men to the sword.

But one glimmer of hope for England lies in their home record against the All Blacks, who have lost two and drawn one of their last five Tests at Twickenham.

They won 23-19 last November but were let off the hook by Andy Robinson's side and Henry insists a trip to Twickenham remains a daunting assignment - whatever the circumstances.

"We look at history and the All Blacks have often struggled at Twickenham," he said. "We struggled there last year. We didn't play particularly well and we were pleased to get out of it, to be quite frank. We expect another huge game on Sunday.

"England are the world champions . . . We have a lot of respect for them.

"The fact they're so good is the major reason we don't have such a good record at Twickenham.

"There are also 80,000 vocal supporters cheering them on which I think is great. It really helps them."

But hooker Anton Oliver stoked up the tension by branding England supporters "ignorant" and "arrogant" and claiming they still regard Australia and New Zealand as a "large penal colony".

Henry distanced himself from the remarks: "The crowds are the same all over the world. Some of them are superb in their sportsmanship and others are not so good. That's the case in New Zealand, South Africa, England or anywhere else.

"That's a generalisation which will cause some interest over here. It's a personal opinion."

Oliver has been spared the wrath of the Twickenham hordes on Sunday by being omitted from the squad announced yesterday.

Nick Evans has been named at outhalf but is nursing a hamstring injury and is rated 50-50. Dan Carter will be promoted if Evans fails to recover, with Leon MacDonald ready to fill the vacancy among the substitutes.

Henry has selected a powerful line-up, led by Richie McCaw.

Hard man Keith Robinson, who only recently recovered from a long-term back injury, is included in the second row.

"We are going to try to play as many players as possible in the first two Tests against England and France and then pick the best 22 for the second game against France," said Henry.

"We're playing quality opposition and we've put a strong team out, probably not far off the best team."

NEW ZEALAND (v England): Muliaina (Waikato); Gear (Tasman), Nonu (Wellington), Mauger (Canterbury), Rokocoko (Auckland); Evans (Otago), Kelleher (Waikato); Woodcock (North Harbour), Mealamu (Auckland), Hayman (Otago); Jack (Tasman), Robinson (Waikato); Thorne (Canterbury), McCaw (Canterbury, capt), Masoe (Wellington). Replacements: Hore (Taranaki), Afoa (Auckland), Dermody (Southland), So'oialo (Wellington), Ellis (Canterbury), Carter (Canterbury), Sivivatu (Waikato).