Steve Thompson is determined to bulldoze a route at Twickenham tomorrow through the perceived wisdom that the New Zealand All Blacks are invincible.

The England hooker, the 18st 11lb central axis of the biggest front row in world rugby, has this message for the doubters: ''They're beatable.''

''We've seen that,'' said Thompson. ''South Africa can beat them in the Tri-nations, so we can have a go at them and get the win as well.

''Our squad is young but we have high expectations. We really want to test ourselves this weekend and there's no better test than playing the number one team in the world.

''Sometimes you play the top team when they are on the way down but if anything New Zealand are getting stronger. It's going to be a great day for us to see where we are.

''We're on an upward curve and hopefully that's where we'll keep going. We'll know where we are at the weekend.''

England, who have struggled amid a transitional phase since winning the World Cup two years ago, proved last weekend they were moving in the right direction at last with a 26-16 win against Australia, which was impressive for its forward domination, if somewhat lacking in creativity.

Thompson was part of the front row which steamrollered Australia and is savouring the glamorous publicity which has surrounded England's big men, in particular prop Andrew Sheridan.

''Sheri's brought a whole new image to it with headlines such as 'Prop Idol' and 'Superman' and things like that,'' said Thompson of last week's man of the match in his first start for England.

''It's good for one of the big lads to be in the spotlight. It's good for once for it to be recognised that we've done a job and helped the team to win.

''There was real excitement last week. Every time a ball was knocked on we were running to get there for the scrum."

Not that Thompson, who began the season at Northampton in the back row before moving to his preferred hooker role, is expecting everything to go quite as smoothly in the scrums and line-outs this weekend.

''I don't think our forwards will have the same dominance against New Zealand,'' he said. ''Up front they are very physical and streetwise. Their forwards are the best in the world working as an eight.

''They are exceptional scrummagers and now they're number one it just makes it all the more special.

''We know they are exceptional line-out jumpers too and we know if our drills are not right and we're not throwing 100 per cent they will start nicking the ball. There's a great challenge ahead of us in the scrum and the line-out. The throws have got to be spot on and we know we've got to step it up.''

The throws are Thompson's responsibility and while that aspect of his game has not always been efficient during his 41 caps he has improved recently. His rumbustious running in the loose, however, remains his most dynamic talent.

''I'm aiming to get us over that gain line,'' he said. ''Playing flanker earlier in the season has helped. You see things that bit quicker when you are in the back row.

''In the front row you tend to get there and it's already happened and you can't change it. It's helped me with the ability to assess the situation and get involved.

''New Zealand have got big ball carriers. They've got big hitters, one to 15 they can all handle themselves. They have stepped up the physicality to another level and it's up to everyone to catch them."

The 56 stones in England's front row of Thompson, Sheridan and Phil Vickery should help. Whether the All Blacks really are ''beatable,'' however, remains to be seen