ENGLAND’S RUGBY FOOTBALL Union (RFU) has played down the significance of its decision to commission a black ‘away’ shirt ahead of the World Cup in September.

Kiwis captain Richie McCaw laughed off the controversy, insisting that his team doesn’t care what colour they play in and that any match shouldn’t be decided by what shirts are worn.

However, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said England were “a bunch of wannabes” and added: “There’s only one team that wears black with pride and that’s the All Blacks.”

In response, the England camp has insisted that they “fully consulted” their counterparts in the New Zealand Rugby Union, who had “no issue” with the move.  Martin Johnson’s men will wear the changed strip when they play Wales next month and again when they take on Argentina in their World Cup pool game against Argentina at the World Cup.

A RFU spokesperson added that England will wear white in their other pool games, concluding:

“Like all countries, England are obliged by the Rugby World Cup participation agreement to have a change strip. We have worked with Nike on producing a shirt that complies with Rugby World Cup and International Rugby Board regulations and, fully aware of the significance of a black shirt to New Zealand’s players and population as a whole, we have fully consulted with the New Zealand Rugby Union who confirmed they had no issues.”