New Zealand 24 — England 21
by “Lee Grant”
England got off to a flying start and made the All Blacks look like anything but world champions for the first ten minutes. Then New Zealand held off several other challenges and worked themselves back into the game.
They dominated the second half but England came back at the death and gave themselves a chance to win in the last minute, but they were at the wrong end of the park.
England would rather have played the All Blacks with a game or two under their belt but the visitors were champing at the bit after their loss to the Springboks a month earlier. The All Blacks were favourites but they remembered that they were supposed to win the same game in 2012 and got done.
Jonny May smokes Israel Dagg to score
First half
The Kiwis got a shock when they kicked away the ball once too often and winger Jonny May, the fastest man on the field, got the ball on his side of halfway, took the outside break around Conrad Smith, then smoked Israel Dagg to score with three minutes on the clock.
With the All Blacks untidy around their own ruck England had the vibe. They kicked the ball for a lineout drive instead of kicking for goal, but fullback Mike Brown dropped the ball a right-foot step away from scoring.
Mike Brown – left a try on the park
England had just a 5-0 lead for ten minutes of bossing the game, then New Zealand started playing like All Blacks. After winger Ben Smith fielded an up and under in traffic the ball went wide, and a run by 6 Jerome Kaino set up 10 Aaron Cruden to score.
Or so referee Nigel Owens said, though it looked dodgy on replay.
In hindsight the four minutes between Brown “no-try” and the Cruden “try” was the watershed period of the game—New Zealand drew level 5-5 at 14 minutes.
It was fairly even for the rest of the half too, with England kicking three penalties to two.
Half-time score: England 14 – New Zealand 11.
Jerome Kaino tackles Kyle Eastmond
Second half
After a non-intercept, prop Owen Franks chugged through the gap and despite a crook pass from Dagg, 7 Richie McCaw, having a cracking game, was able to grab the pill to score. At 45 minutes New Zealand had the lead for the first time: 16-14.
With the rain belting down and the All Blacks ascendant it looked gloomy for the Poms—but then Kiwi hooker Dane Coles got a yellow card. But England were not kicking from hand well and that helped the All Blacks to do most of the attacking in the sin-bin period.
England stole a lineout throw close to their line and cleared, but Beauden Barret slotted a penalty goal after missing a sitter minutes before, for NZ to lead 19-14 with 14 minutes remaining.
Captains courageous – Richie McCaw and Chris Robshaw
NZ were playing the right rugby in the wet conditions and after several attacking waves reserve prop Charlie Faumuina scored. Barrett missed another easy kick, but the game looked out of sight at 24-14 with seven minutes left.
Most of the second half was played in England territory but the Poms got deep into the Black Riders’ half at the end and earned a penalty try through their scrum. They had time to receive the restart kick but couldn’t do anything with it.
Final score: New Zealand 24 – England 21
All Black skipper Richie McCaw got the well-earned man-of-the-match award for his usual tireless and professional play.
It was a scrappy win for the Black Riders, but on another day three unsuccessful easy kicks at goal could have lost the match.
Billy Vunipola on the rampage
The teams
England: 1. J. Marler, 2. D. Hartley, 3. D. Wilson, 4. D. Attwood, 5. C. Lawes, 6. T. Wood, 7. C. Robshaw, 8. B. Vunipola, 9. D. Care, 10. O. Farrell, 11. J. May, 12. K. Eastmond, 13. B. Barritt, 14. S. Rokoduguni, 15. M. Brown.
Reserves: 16. R. Webber, 17. M. Mullan. 18. K. Brookes, 19. G. Kruis, 20. B. Morgan, 21. B. Youngs, 22. G. Ford, 23. A. Watson.
New Zealand: 1. W. Crockett, 2. D. Coles, 3. O. Franks, 4. B. Retallick, 5. S. Whitelock, 6. J. Kaino, 7. R. McCaw (c), 8. K. Read, 9. A. Smith, 10. A. Cruden, 11. J. Savea, 12. SB Williams, 13. C. Smith, 14. B. Smith, 15. I. Dagg.
Reserves: 16. K. Mealamu, 17. B. Franks, 18. C. Faumuina, 19. P. Tuipulotu, 20. L. Messam, 21.TJ Perenara, 22. B. Barrett, 23. R. Crotty
The scoring
New Zealand 24 (A. Cruden, R. McCaw, C. Faumuna tries; Cruden 2, B. Barrett pens) def.England 21 (J. May try, pen try; G. Ford con; O. Farrell 3 pens).
See next page for Scotland v Argentina
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