Launchbury lifts England as Kiwis lose Cruden

It is not difficult to argue that England find it harder to function without their outstanding young second-row Joe Launchbury than New Zealand do without their inventive outside-half Aaron Cruden, so this year's World Cup hosts were clear winners over the reigning champions in yesterday's battle of the orthopaedic bulletins, which are now coming thick and fast with the global gathering just around the corner.