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ENGLAND BEAT THE ALL BLACKS AT TWICKENHAM!
80 mins. The lineout is overthrown by NZ, Cowan-Dickie tidies up and Spencer whomps it off the park to finalise the victory. That’s ten wins on the bounce for England and their first against New Zealand at Twickenham for thirteen years.
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Updated at 12.09 EST
79 mins. England are a but eager in defence and move offside. McKenzie finds touch on the 22.
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78 mins. Middle of the park mediocrity from the All Black attack is contained by England
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TRY! England 33 – 19 New Zealand (Tom Roebuck)
77 mins. New Zealand chuck the ball behind their own players in their 22, which is pounced on by Pollock to hack it forward. He slices it off the outside of his right foot but Roebuck is there to scoop it up and score.
England’s Henry Pollock kicks the ball on … Photograph: Adam Davy/PAWhich Tom Roebuck grabs and goes over to score England’s fourth try. Photograph: Adam Davy/PARoebuck (kneeling) and teammates celebrate. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 12.10 EST
76 mins. A very tidy gather of the restart allows Spencer to boot clear.
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PENALTY! England 28 – 19 New Zealand (George Ford)
75 mins. The hush descends and Ford casually bisects the posts. NZ now have to score twice to win! Huge kick, that.
George Ford’s trusty right boot is called into action again, and doesn’t disappoint. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 12.04 EST
74 mins. It’s not exactly a tidy scrum from the All Blacks, but they do enough to allow Ratima to boot it clear to touch. At the lineout Sititi is penalised for jumping across the line and it’s well within Ford’s range, 30 metres on the angle to the right of the posts. He calls for the tee…
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72 mins. The rolling maul starts from the England lineout and marches ten metres towards the NZ 22. Mitchell takes the option to chip a kick for Roebuck to chase, but the winger can’t claim it cleanly and spills it forward.
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71 mins. Another careless NZ penalty give away, this time for Fainga’anuku mistiming his tackle on Ford who is in the air catching the ball. Ford despatches it to touch on the NZ 10m line.
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69 mins. Lienert-Brown is untidy with his clearout in midfield and flops onto the ball, giving the Ref and easy decision to penalise him for sealing the ball off. This allows England to boot clear and take some heat out of this continuing sin-bin period.
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Updated at 11.51 EST
67 mins. Cowan-Dickie’s throw is squint into the lineout and this adds more worries for England, who have to play for another seven minutes with fourteen men against a resurgent All Blacks.
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TRY! England 25 – 19 New Zealand (Will Jordan)
65 mins. Two strong carries from off the next lineout maul suck in the England defence and that’s all the opportunity McKenzie needs to call for the ball and find Jordan in space.
Conversion added.
New Zealand’s Will Jordan celebrates scoring their third try with Cortez Ratima. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAShare
Updated at 11.51 EST
YELLOW CARD! Ben Earl (England)
64 mins. An NZ catch and drive moves them towards the line before Earl is penalised for side entry. Given the context the ref considers it worthy of a card.
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63 mins. The possession comes to nothing other than a brilliant deep kick behind Smith from McKenzie. The England fullback is isolated and holds on to give a 5m lineout to NZ near the England line.
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61 mins. England are on top everywhere in this half, with the latest example being a scrum penalty won against the head as the All Black pack crumples under an eight-man shove.
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60 mins. Frantic passing from NZ loses the ball and Genge scoops it up to get his side on the attack from their 22. The ball is moved to Roebuck, but the scramble from the visitors’ defence forces a knock-on in the tackle on the England winger.
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58 mins. For the first time in what feels like an hour, NZ are in the England 22 and running through the phases. The home side drift offside and the All Blacks opt to tap and go from ten metres out.
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TRY! England 25 – 12 New Zealand (Fraser Dingwall)
55 mins. Jordan takes a brilliant flying catch from a Mitchell bomb, but this is equalled by the England defenders meeting him as he hits the ground to win a turnover that Ford whams to touch or a 50:22.
On first phase from the lineout, Lawrence takes a crash ball and pops it left just before contact to Dingwall on a clever and later angle who walks in through a gap.
England’s Fraser Dingwall scores their side’s third try of the game. Photograph: Adam Davy/PADingwall (right) celebrates with Marcus Smith. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersBefore George Ford (left) and teammates join them in the celebrations Photograph: Kin Cheung/APShare
Updated at 12.00 EST
Polo Cockta is not happy.
“I’m listening on the radio and I’d much rather hear the crowd and the atmosphere after a score than yet another hit of ‘Free From Desire’. who is it in production that thinks this enhances the game?”
The persistence of this song for nearly three decades is one of the reasons I would welcome the asteroid.
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50 mins. A big moment as England push the NZ pack back like a wheelie-bin to win a scrum penalty. Yes, the All Blacks are a man short, but even so. The lineout is won at the tail for Roebuck to rush through the crowd into space to feed Earl, who offloads to Ford on his shoulder to gallop to the line. But the roar of the crowd turns to a groan as the TMO wants a word with the ref.
There was a hint of a knock on from Earl, but this secondary to the fact that the England backline was offside at the lineout prior to the break. NO TRY!
That is a huge decision and moment in the game as England’s momentum was starting to feel unstoppable.
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48 mins. Roigard puts a speculative bomb up that Smith fumbles forward to Carter who races forward into the 22. But the lack of precision haunts the All Black attack again, with Fainga’anuku losing the ball.
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46 mins. A penalty for NZ gives them some possession after an opening five minutes that has left them in a daze. The usual patterns of predictable midfield carries start that are easily contained by the white defensive wall.
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TRY! England 18 – 12 New Zealand (Sam Underhill)
43 mins. England’s decoy runners have the NS defence guessing and that’s enough for Pepper to carry up to close to the line. Mitchell steps up to find Underhill who is too strong to stop for a metre out.
Converted by Ford
Sam Underhill barges his way over the line to score England’s second try. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty ImagesUnderhill celebrates with Jamie George (left) and Marcus Smith (right). Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 11.25 EST
YELLOW CARD! Codie Taylor (New Zealand)
42 mins. Roigard sends a settling clearing kick to touch after his forward receive a tidy restart. England return to NZ territory but can’t control possession at the ruck, with the reason being Taylor punched the ball out of Smith’s hands on the ground.
That’s enough for Ref Piardi to send the hooker for 10 mins. Seems a bit harsh, that.
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Second Half!
Ford restarts the match
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Matt in NZ, where it is 5am, messages.
“I’m all for England kicking another six drop kicks and NZ having another three unconverted tries with Mr Barrett unable to kick the skin off a rice pudding. Prediction: England 29 – 27 NZ”
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“Gidday Lee. I’ve been living in France for 40 years, but I’m still a Kiwi.” confirms Alistair Connor. “Sadly, I know at least four of the Six Nations teams better than I know the Blacks. Their current period of doubt suits me well: if they are the underdogs, then I can be 100% behind them. Everyone deserves a fair go… except the English, eh?”
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Half time!
40 mins. PEEEP! That’s yer lot for the first half
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DROP GOAL! England 11 – 12 New Zealand (George Ford)
39 mins. More good hands from England set Feyi-Waboso free up the left once again. The NZ defence scrambles and Ford says “give it here again, cocker” and does the necessary for the second time. Cool as a northern cucumber.
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DROP GOAL! England 8 – 12 New Zealand (George Ford)
38 mins. Sound the klaxon! England finally win a lineout and after half a dozen phases around the NZ 22, Ford calls for the ball and despatches the cruellest cut from his right boot.
George Ford’s trusty trusty right boot does the business. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 11.20 EST
35 mins. There are plenty of fundamentally unforgivable mistakes from both teams so far. England can’t win a lineout and NZ have missed touch TWICE when tying to kick a penalty out of play. Disgraceful stuff.
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33 mins. New Zealand work into the 22 from the scrum om first phase, where they look to be full of impending danger before a massive England counter-ruck wins the ball back on the 5m line. Excellent, muscular scrambling from the home team.
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31 mins. England overwork the ball on the NZ 22 and from the turnover the ball is fired right by the All Blacks to Carter. The winger sets off and gasses Roebuck to chip and gather his own kick before Smith stops him dead on the 22. The resulting breakdown is messy and the Ref spots an England knock-on.
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Updated at 10.49 EST
28 mins. Possession from a scrum has Ford kick-passing wide to Roebuck who does well to stay in when tackled by Fainga’anuku.
Freddie Steward has failed an HIA after being flagged by his smart gumshield, Marcus Smith permanently replaces him
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TRY! England 5 – 12 New Zealand (Olly Lawrence)
24 mins. A late pop pass from Ford finds Lawrence who clatters Carter to the ground, breaking free to run in from 10 metres. A very strong bust from the England centre, but Carter will not want to watch that back.
Ford slides the conversion wide.
Ollie Lawrence gets the first scores on the board for England. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 11.20 EST
23 mins. England’s lineout is a total shambles, the latest being the third they have lost so far. However, from NZ’s clearance kick, Mitchell gets them moving by finding Underhill to run and pass to Feyi-Waboso who races forty metres up the left touchline. He looks for the offload but his support was unable to keep up with him so he has to take a tackle metres short of the line.
Coles picks and drives from the ruck to muscle over the line, but a combination of Roigard and Proctor get underneath him to hold the ball up! A breathless few minutes of play.
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21 mins. Alex Coles trucks the ball up in midfield to put England back on the front foot and attacking. There are a couple of probing runs before the ball is angled towards the touchline from Ford’s boot. Roebuck was chasing but Jordan shepherd’s it to touch with little fuss.
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“That’s the difference between a very good team and a world class one – when New Zealand get into the 22, they get points, when England get into the 22, they don’t.” posits Joshua Keeling, “England need to be more precise. You can’t get away with kicking the ball straight out from a kick off against New Zealand.”
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TRY! England 0 – 12 New Zealand (Codie Taylor)
17 mins. From the scrum in the middle of the park Roigard boots a beautiful 50:22 before the lineout possession feeds Jordan to run into space. He can’t carry it to the line, but no matter as Tupaea floats a long pass to Taylor prowling the left touchline who steps inside the covering tackle and scores.
Conversion added.
New Zealand’s Codie Taylor slips the tackle from England’s Alex Mitchell … Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersAnd then dives over the line for the All Black’s second try. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 10.41 EST
16 mins. It’s a worry for England that NZ’s first real attack led to a try, and even more concerning is that Ford has just launched his restart out on the full.
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TRY! England 0 – 5 New Zealand (Leicester Fainga’anuku)
14 mins. The first proper attacking platform for the All Blacks, who have a scrum on the right side of the England 22 zone. They target Ford with the the first before firing wide to the left channel where two phases later the big winger forces his way over.
Barrett misses the conversion.
New Zealand’s Leicester Fainga’anuku scores their first try. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 10.34 EST
11 mins. All Black possession just inside the England half has them crash-balling into the England tackle line. The home defence are committing very few people to the ruck and instead fanning out, which so far is enough to stymie pretty much everything NZ are doing. Mainly because they are not doing much at all.
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Updated at 10.25 EST
8 mins. Feyi-Waboso has his first intervention of the game with a run on the left after Ford finds him with a looping pass. Barrett hauls the winger down on the 22 for Savea to tenaciously win a ruck turnover to relieve the pressure.
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6 mins. England are back on the ball after another towering kick, this time from Ford, is mangled by Barrett in his 22. The home side move it quickly once more with Underhill through a gap, but his pass is just behind Lawrence who had a free run to the line. Missed opportunity, but this is a very good start from England.
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4 mins. I move that surprises no-one given how poor NZ have been under the high ball this Autumn, Steward sends big bomb up that he chased and wins back. This springs the England attack into life, with Roebuck to the fore with a run before Ford overcooks a cross-kick and loses possession.
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2 mins. Mitchell fields the deep kick-off and booms it into touch to ensure the quotient of mucking about is kept low this early in the game. From their first lineout possession, NZ make hardly any metres with their carries as the home side’s defence is ferocious. Eventually they fling it left to Fainga’anuku who spills the ball in the tackle.
New Zealand’s Leroy Carter is tackled by England’s Joe Heyes and Guy Pepper. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAShare
Updated at 10.22 EST
Kick Off!
Beauden Barrett sends the ball into England territory and we’re underway.
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We’ve had the anthems and now it’s Haka time. England let slip that they have a very special response planned…
I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t give ‘standing in a semi-circle to face it’ that particular description, but that is what they’ve done.
New Zealand players perform a Haka. Photograph: Adam Davy/PAThe England players look nonchalant. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 10.20 EST
Following on her visit to England’s Bagshot training base earlier in the week, Emma Raducanu is in the stands to watch the match. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/ReutersShare
Jeremy Boyce is on tenterhooks..
“Looking forward to a stonking match this afternoon. And a great week to come. There are big moments in sport, some much bigger than others. The opening salvos of an England v All Blacks rugby match or England v Australia in cricket’s Ashes are just that, with expectation and anticipation levels cranked up to 11. Who’s kicking off ? Who’s first catcher? Who’s bowling? Who’s opening? Game on!”
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“Couldn’t most worries about the game (injuries, space, player size) be alleviated by making these athletes play the 80 mins?” asks Tim Kirkus. “This might result in smaller, fitter players and allow more nuance in the game. So subs for injury only, mediated by independent doctors? Just a thought.”
This has come up a number of times in the past, Tim. Even if it was a good idea – and there’s plenty to debate in that – I just don’t think it’s workable given it puts medics in a tricky position of having to a call a player a liar.
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Officials for the match
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Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
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Assistants: Luc Ramos (FFR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
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TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
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Have a read while you wait
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Much to ponder and look forward to in the match, why not share all your thoughts with me on the email in this regard, both now and throughout.
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Teams
England
Freddie Steward; Tom Roebuck, Ollie Lawrence, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Fin Baxter, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith.
England head coach Steve Borthwick barks out instructions to his charges during the warm up. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
New Zealand
Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie.
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Updated at 09.53 EST
Preamble
Some matches are important as milestones in a team’s development. Think South Africa’s last minute draw vs New Zealand in Wellington in 2019; the spirit and fight of which epitomised the Boks’ evolving transformation under Rassie Erasmus. A transformation that made them world champions later that year.
The stakes are not as high for the two teams today with the game falling in the middle of the world cup cycle for both Steve Borthwick and Scott Robertson, but there is the sense that a win today would be a statement. England have not lost since the opening weekend of the Six Nations in Dublin; a run including a tour to Argentina when shorn of their Lions contingent and victory over Australia two weeks ago. Yet still doubts persist about the quality and consistency of Borthwick’s gameplan against the top tier sides.
The All Blacks are such mixed bag that they could have been bought from a 1990s provincial Woolworth’s. Their 2025 features wins in the Rugby Championship, but also the biggest defeat in their history against South Africa. Added to this, they are broadly failing the eye test in matches, with their patterns and shape often wanting, and the issue that discernible way of playing has still not emerge from the fog of Robertson’s months in charge. Luckily for them, they still have their traditional arsenal of enviable talent to fling at any problem and this is often enough to get then a win.
All of this is put to the test at Twickenham in a few hours. England must win this if they are to demonstrate their recent improvements are not built on sand; while New Zealand must win this because they are New Zealand.
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Updated at 09.17 EST
