New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has promised an improved lineout performance against England on Sunday even though the All Blacks will field yet another reshuffled pack in the first match of their European tour.

Although the All Blacks have refashioned their scrum since they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, this year's Tri-Nations series confirmed that the lineout is still fallible.

Head coach Graham Henry's policy of constantly rotating his squad can not have helped achieve consistency and at Twickenham Chris Jack will lock the scrum with Waikato's Keith Robinson, who has not played a test for two years.

On Thursday McCaw, who will play his first international at Twickenham after withdrawing from last year's match, said the lineout problem could have been addressed earlier.

"Without giving too much away we are doing that," he told reporters at the team's London hotel. "Sunday will be the first test."

Provided he keeps clear of the head injuries which have threatened to end his career prematurely, McCaw will lead the All Blacks at next year's World Cup in France.

Since David Kirk held the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft at Eden Park in 1987, New Zealand have not won the World Cup and this month's tests against England, France (two) and Wales are being viewed as a dress rehearsal for next year's tournament.

"I guess it will be," McCaw said. "But things change over time too. Things can change a hell of a lot.

"Obviously there are certain parts of our game we think we can improve. If we stand still everyone will catch up and run past.

"This tour we are going to come away from the four games having moved on from where we were.

"In a lot of games in the Tri-Nations we had opportunities we didn't finish. We have to keep winning and there are some areas we have to keep improving.

"Over the past year we have had probably 30 guys in all who have played in big test matches.

"On this trip we have 32 players and we have confidence in every one of them to go out there and do the business."