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New Zealand stand firm with 14 to edge out England at Twickenham New Zealand stand firm with 14 to edge out England at Twickenham
(35 minutes later)
The statistics were against England at the start: New Zealand had won 13 of the 14 matches between the sides since 2003, had 759 caps to 359 and had most of their squad available while their hosts were without 11 injured players, a number that increased on 22 minutes when Courtney Lawes left the field after taking a bang on the side of his head. It was close for a while, on the scoreboard more than the pitch.The statistics were against England at the start: New Zealand had won 13 of the 14 matches between the sides since 2003, had 759 caps to 359 and had most of their squad available while their hosts were without 11 injured players, a number that increased on 22 minutes when Courtney Lawes left the field after taking a bang on the side of his head. It was close for a while, on the scoreboard more than the pitch.
It meant England were without their first four second rows and Lawes’ replacement, George Kruis, was winning his first cap but England not only led 14-11 at the interval but were worth it. They may have been relatively short on experience, but they had a gameplan that blunted the strengths of the All Blacks, contesting breakdowns and crowding New Zealand at the lineout to prevent them using quick ball to attack. It meant England were without their first four second-rows and Lawes’s replacement, George Kruis, was winning his first cap but England not only led 14-11 at the interval but were worth it. They were relatively short on experience, but they had a gameplan that blunted the strengths of the All Blacks, contesting breakdowns and crowding New Zealand at the lineout to prevent them using quick ball to attack.
The one disappointment for England, and a familiar one in the autumn, was that they they did not always finish what they started. They had the ideal start on three minutes when Semesa Rokoduguni, making his debut on the wing, fielded a high ball near halfway and quickly smuggled it away. The one disappointment for England, and a familiar one in the autumn, was that they did not always finish what they started. They had the ideal start on three minutes when Semesa Rokoduguni, making his debut on the wing, fielded a high ball near halfway and quickly smuggled it away.
England moved the ball left and when Jonny May received possession in the outside-centre position, he knew he had the legs on the defender in front of him, Conrad Smith, and left the centre a spectator as he reached the 22 where Israel Dagg was inviting him to take the touchline route. England moved the ball left and when Jonny May received possession in the outside-centre position he knew he had the legs on the defender in front of him, Conrad Smith, and left the centre a spectator as he reached the 22 where Israel Dagg was inviting him to take the touchline route.
May accepted and had the pace to get away from the surprised full-back who having expected to tackle the wing into touch founding himself clutching air as the Gloucester player scored his first international try. He was close to a second three minutes later, collecting Danny Care’s kick after a capricious bounce in New Zealand’s 22. The line beckoned and he went for it, but this time he was tackled by Dagg and penalised for not releasing having ignored the unmarked Owen Farrell outside him. May accepted and had the pace to get away from the surprised full-back who, having expected to tackle the wing into touch, found himself clutching air as the Gloucester player scored his first international try.
New Zealand, who had started by running from their 22 as Sonny Bill Williams announced his return to Test rugby, were hustled out of their stride. Aaron Smith was given no time at scrum-half, Aaron Cruden struggled under pressure and the All Blacks were making mistakes rather than feeding off them. He was close to a second three minutes later, collecting Danny Care’s kick after a capricious bounce in New Zealand’s 22. The line beckoned and he went for it, but this time he was tackled by Dagg and penalised for not releasing having ignored the unmarked Owen Farrell outside him.
England’s profligacy cost them on the summer tour to New Zealand in the first two Tests and they blew another opportunity on 11 minutes. Billy Vunipola forced a turnover and Care spotted that New Zealand were short of numbers on the left. Kyle Eastmond, looking more assured than he had been against the All Blacks in June, threw out a miss pass in midfield towards Mike Brown on the right wing, spotting that Julian Savea had started to drift off his flank. New Zealand, who had started by running from their 22, were hustled out of their stride. Aaron Smith was given no time at scrum-half, Aaron Cruden struggled under pressure and the All Blacks were making mistakes rather than feeding off them.
England’s profligacy had cost them on the summer tour to New Zealand in the first two Tests and they blew another opportunity on 11 minutes. Billy Vunipola forced a turnover and Care spotted that New Zealand were short of numbers on the left. Kyle Eastmond, looking more assured than he had been against the All Blacks in June, threw out a miss-pass in midfield towards Mike Brown on the right wing, spotting that Julian Savea had started to drift off his flank.
The pass was hard and flat and Brown did not have to break stride to catch it. The Harlequins full-back would probably have scored last season but, Superman then, he is more like Clark Kent this campaign and the ball slipped from his grasp. England were five points up, but they had blown 14 points and within two minutes New Zealand were level.The pass was hard and flat and Brown did not have to break stride to catch it. The Harlequins full-back would probably have scored last season but, Superman then, he is more like Clark Kent this campaign and the ball slipped from his grasp. England were five points up, but they had blown 14 points and within two minutes New Zealand were level.
Ben Smith caught Cruden’s high kick on England’s 10-metre line ahead of May and the All Blacks, for once, were able to move the ball with alacrity. Jerome Kaino broke the challenges of Lawes and Dylan Hartley for Cruden to take the ball at pace and score, although he was unable to convert his own try on a day when the All Blacks’ goal-kicking was some way below average.Ben Smith caught Cruden’s high kick on England’s 10-metre line ahead of May and the All Blacks, for once, were able to move the ball with alacrity. Jerome Kaino broke the challenges of Lawes and Dylan Hartley for Cruden to take the ball at pace and score, although he was unable to convert his own try on a day when the All Blacks’ goal-kicking was some way below average.
England recovered from the shock of conceding a try against the run of play with two Farrell penalties in four minutes, the first after Richie McCaw had been penalised at a ruck. Cruden replied after Hartley had been harshly penalised for a late blow on the outside-half.England recovered from the shock of conceding a try against the run of play with two Farrell penalties in four minutes, the first after Richie McCaw had been penalised at a ruck. Cruden replied after Hartley had been harshly penalised for a late blow on the outside-half.
England were seeing less of the ball and after one passage when the ball was taken through phases without much ground being made, Farrell put himself in position for a drop goal but his kick from 35 metres lacked conviction and went to the right of the posts. Cruden equalised four minutes before half-time after Eastmond had prevented release at a ruck, but England did go into the interval ahead when their final attack of the half ended when Kieran Read, hardly seen in attack, went off his feet at a ruck. England were seeing less of the ball and after one passage when the ball was taken through phases without much ground being made Farrell put himself in position for a drop goal but his kick from 35 metres lacked conviction and drifted to the right of the posts.
The next 13 points were scored by New Zealand as the All Blacks, slowly but gradually, assumed control. Cruden hit the post with an early long-range penalty, but McCaw gave his side the lead for the first time when Kruis broke out of the defensive line early, Owen Franks stormed the gainline and Cruden had so much space and time he could afford to pass the ball behind his captain without jeopardising the scoring chance. Cruden equalised four minutes before half-time after Eastmond had prevented release at a ruck, but England did manage to go into the interval ahead when their final attack of the half ended when Kieran Read, hardly seen in attack, went off his feet at a ruck.
England were struggling to get out of their half, but Beauden Barrett missed a penalty from virtually in front of the posts before kicking one from much the same position after Ben Morgan had encroached at a ruck after Williams had been tackled just short of the home line by Ford. The next 13 points were scored by New Zealand as slowly, but gradually, they assumed control. Cruden had hit the post with an early long-range penalty, but McCaw then gave his side the lead for the first time when Kruis broke out of the defensive line early, Owen Franks stormed the gainline and Cruden had so much space and time he could afford to pass the ball behind his captain without jeopardising the scoring chance.
New Zealand looked to have secured victory nine minutes from time when, despite the wet conditions, they took play through 22 phases before the replacement prop Charlie Faumuina forced his way over. Barrett missed the conversion but a 10-point lead looked sufficient only for England to mount a late rally and, after they were awarded four penalties in 90 seconds, the referee Nigel Owens awarded a penalty try which Ford immediately turned into seven points with a drop goal conversion. England were struggling to get out of their half, but Beauden Barrett missed a penalty from virtually in front of the posts before kicking one from much the same position when Ben Morgan had encroached at a ruck after Williams had been tackled just short of the home line by George Ford.
There were 30 seconds remaining when New Zealand restarted, but Chris Robshaw’s knock-on ended a game that had started well for England but which came to reveal the effect of their long injury list. New Zealand looked to have secured victory nine minutes from time when, despite the wet conditions, they took play through 22 phases before the replacement prop Charlie Faumuina forced his way over.
Barrett missed the conversion but a 10-point lead looked sufficient only for England to mount a late rally and after they were awarded four penalties in 90 seconds the referee, Nigel Owens, awarded a penalty try that Ford immediately turned into seven points with a drop goal conversion.
There were 30 seconds remaining when New Zealand restarted, but Chris Robshaw’s knock-on ended a game that had started well for England but came to reveal the effect of their long injury list.
England Brown; Rokoduguni, (Watson 62) Barritt, Eastmond (Ford 64), May; Farrell, Care (B Youngs 62); Marler (Mullan 54), Hartley (Webber 73), Wilson (Brookes 73), Lawes (Kruis 22), Attwood, Wood, Robshaw (capt), B Vunipola (Morgan 52).England Brown; Rokoduguni, (Watson 62) Barritt, Eastmond (Ford 64), May; Farrell, Care (B Youngs 62); Marler (Mullan 54), Hartley (Webber 73), Wilson (Brookes 73), Lawes (Kruis 22), Attwood, Wood, Robshaw (capt), B Vunipola (Morgan 52).
Tries May, penalty Con Ford. Pens Farrell 3.Tries May, penalty Con Ford. Pens Farrell 3.
New Zealand Dagg; B Smith, C Smith (Crotty 57), Williams, Savea; Cruden (Barrett 59), A Smith (Perenara 66); Crockett (B Franks 59), Coles (Mealamu 66), O Franks (Faumuina 45), Retallick (Tuipulotu ht), Whitelock, Kaino (Messam 66), McCaw (capt), Read.New Zealand Dagg; B Smith, C Smith (Crotty 57), Williams, Savea; Cruden (Barrett 59), A Smith (Perenara 66); Crockett (B Franks 59), Coles (Mealamu 66), O Franks (Faumuina 45), Retallick (Tuipulotu ht), Whitelock, Kaino (Messam 66), McCaw (capt), Read.
Tries Cruden, McCaw, Faumuina. Pens: Cruden 2, Barrett.Tries Cruden, McCaw, Faumuina. Pens: Cruden 2, Barrett.