Will Croker says England will come up against a fiercely competitive New Zealand side at Twickenham on Saturday as part of the autumn internationals.
Croker has experience of facing one of the best All Blacks - and players - of all time when he played against legendary number eight Zinzan Brooke at the start of the century.
Croker was plying his trade with Oakmedians while 58-cap All Black Brooke had retired from professional rugby and was at Windsor, and the Bournemouth Director Of Rugby says he is right up there with the best players of all time.
Croker said: “I have played against a few guys who have played international rugby and that is what sets them apart from other players - time.
“They just seem to be able to make their own time, and it is actually one of the things I like about our full-back Kareem Lynch in that even in all of the hustle and bustle of a game, he always manages to make time for himself.
“Of course Zinzan ranks up there as one of the best players I have ever played against, he is a wonderful player.
“I have also played against Chris Sheasby, who was a really good player, and I have never met a player who could manage a referee as well as he did.”
Brooke captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 Championships in 1996 and 1997 and was an influential figure in Auckland’s dominance in the National Provincial Championship.
However, it was on the international stage where he caught the worlds’ eye - scoring 17 tries for his country in test matches - then a world record for a forward.
But Croker said it his behaviour off the field which set him apart from others.
Croker added: “Zinnie was a great player and a lovely, lovely man - a really nice man.
“Our openside flanker at Oakmedians at the time, who was a horrible man called Tim Flower, ended up dump tackling Zinzan and then got chased around the pitch by him so he still had that competitive edge.
“He was just one of those guys who just had so much time on the ball.”