The Duke of Edinburgh has told the All Blacks to expect an easy ride against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The New Zealanders met Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday and her husband Prince Philip took the chance to tell the visitors they would face little opposition from their hosts.
The prince made the comment to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw as the royal couple accompanied the team and New Zealand's newly-elected Prime Minister John Key on a visit of a giant inflatable rugby ball near Tower Bridge in London.
The ball will host Monday's draw for the pool stages of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which will be played in New Zealand.
"He (Philip) was asking me how the grounds were and what it was like to play at Twickenham, actually," McCaw said.
"We were talking about the game last week - he reckoned it will be quite easy this week, but I don't know about that."
AFP
