Martin Johnson’s injury-ravaged team were well beaten by Australia before edging Argentina for a victory that felt more like defeat they played so poorly. With New Zealand visiting Twickenham on Saturday, their November series will surely continue to unravel as the world’s number one ranked side target an eighth successive triumph in the fixture.
But Read fears there could be a backlash as England attempt to restore some pride.
“Teams that get bagged normally come out and put in a good performance. We have to be wary of that,” he said.
“England are going to be up for it on Saturday. It’s our job to be ready for a team that is going to come out all fired up.
“There is never an easy time to play England at Twickenham but they will have their backs to the wall.
“They’ll be dangerous so it’s going to be a good game.
“They will be fired up and we have to match that.
“England are going to be putting their bodies on the line.”
