It was a heartbreaking finale to England’s first match of the Autumn Nations Series, as a missed drop goal from George Ford handed the win to New Zealand in a truly dramatic ending at the Allianz Stadium. England’s search for a home win against New Zealand goes on, with Scott Robertson’s side triumphant tonight by the skin of their teeth.
RUCK’s Autumn Nations Series coverage is proudly powered by the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, dedicated to creating a world free of MND. Join the the fight against MND here.
England’s statement of intent was laid down ahead of kick-off, as they responded to the All Blacks’ Haka. England marched up as one from the 10m line to half-way, which provoked New Zealand to take plenty of steps forward in the latter stages of their pre-match challenge.
England were the first team on the board, as Marcus Smith got the hosts underway just three minutes into the match. Jordie Barrett was penalised following his hit off the ball on Chandler Cunningham-South, and Smith gladly slotted the first points of the afternoon for the 3-0 lead after as many minutes.
New Zealand had to use their depth early than expected, as hooker Codie Taylor was withdrawn for a HIA after just eight minutes, and subsequently failed the assessment. Asafo Aumua entered the fray, with the Hurricanes man tested with a gruelling outing at the Allianz. Despite the slight reshuffling of the script, the All Blacks kept to their high octane processes and were first to cross the whitewash.
It was Blues wing Mark Tele’a that took the opening plaudits, yet the credit had to go to the audacious offload from back row and Player of the Match Wallace Sititi. Despite the double-tackle pressure from George Furbank and Tommy Freeman, Sititi thread the ball between the two Saints flyers, to find Tele’a out wide, who scorched the Twickenham turf around the outside of Ellis Genge. The Baby Rhino stood no chance, as Tele’a cantered away to hand the All Blacks the lead after 10 minutes.
After Beauden Barrett dusted off his shooting boots with a well struck conversion from his re-found role at 10, his opposite man Marcus Smith slotted another three points from the tee. Tamua was lucky to avoid the sin bin after his hit on the Harlequin was off the ball, and Smith shrugged off the illegalities to keep England’s scoreboard ticking over nicely, and reduce the deficit to one point.
The All Blacks extended their away lead after 27 minutes, with a brilliant strike move seeing Beauden Barrett link up with Will Jordan. The halfback switched the direction of attack and sent the Crusader flying on the inside line, with Ellis Genge clutching at thin air as he exploded on the break. No one could stop Jordan, who was arguably the fastest man on the pitch, with the afterburners showcased on his sprint to the corner.
England would answer back at the half hour mark, and once again it was the boot of Marcus Smith that kept their points tally ticking. Referee Angus Gardner let the 82,000 in attendance know the lay of the law, as the newly introduced ‘NFL style’ ref-mics broadcast every word of Gardner’s telling off to Scott Barrett, following yet another tackle off the ball. Smith nailed the shot, and clawed England back within a score.
The last points of the first half were of course were orchestrated by Smith, with his fourth strike at goal being his finest of the first 40 minutes. The phase began with a monstrous hit from Cunningham-South, who forced a knock on from Tupou Vaa’i, and a serge of adrenaline from the Allianz faithful.
England won the following scrum penalty, and Smith sent the 45m effort over the uprights to bring the All Blacks within two points. Smith had one final crack at the posts before the half-time break, however his half-time drop goal scuffed wide of the posts, before the sides departed for the break at 12-14.
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 12 – 14 NEW ZEALAND
Smith continued to influence the match into the second half, as he made two steals early after the re-start. The first saw the Harlequin throw Caleb Clarke’s boot towards the touch-line, with the second being a significant interception in the run-up to England’s try. Smith intercepted the pass and the fly half raced away from his own 22m, and shipped a pass to Henry Slade as the rapid Will Jordan was in pursuit.
Slade would then link up with his Exeter Chiefs teammate, as he sent Manny Feyi-Waboso on a surging run towards the try-line. Smith nailed the extras with a well struck conversion, as England climbed to a 19-14 lead early in the second half. Smith continued to pile the pressure on the All Blacks from the boot, as he nailed a 50-22 kick deep into New Zealand territory at 53 minutes.
The Replacement front row of Theo Dan, Fin Baxter and Dan Cole all appeared at once off the bench, with cries of ‘heave’ in support of their immediate rolling mauls. Tom Curry was all smiles after his subsequent hit on Will Jordan, as the fullback spilt the ball in contact. England then opted for a unique penalty approach, as Smith sent an up and under kick skyward, with the bomb dropping on the All Blacks try-line.
Tommy Freeman rose high in an attempt to claim the ball, yet the All Blacks were able to hold up his following drop to the deck. The all new referee mics were used to great affect, as the All Blacks then had a try of their disallowed. Beauden Barrett raced away to cross the line, after Caleb Clarke offloaded to the halfback. However, the TMO review spotted Clarke’s deliberate knock on in the build-up to the try, with the England supporters held on every word from the match officials, before roaring in celebration at the decision.
Smith would take it back to basics for the following penalty, as he gladly sent the following kick flying through the sticks. This handed England a 22-14 lead, with Smith departing soon after as George Ford made his long awaited return to the England team.
Ben Earl then got in the referee’s bad books, as did not make enough effort to wrap Pasilio Tosi, with his hit deemed a ‘no arms tackle.’ Damian McKenzie had his ever present grin etched across his face, as he slotted the three points through the uprights and narrowed the gap to 22-17 after 65 minutes. The All Blacks continued to reduce the deficit, and re-took the lead with just three minutes to go.
After relentless phases of pressure within the England red zone, the All Blacks shipped the ball wide to their flying outside backs. Will Jordan cascaded to the defensive line, before offloading in contact to Tele’a. The Blues wing then spun through the tackle attempt from George Ford, and left Henry Slade clutching at dust as he executed a one-handed dive to score in style.
However, there was one last twist in this epic tale at the Allianz. England hooker Theo Dan carried hard into contact, and was met head on by Anton Lienert-Brown. The replacement midfielder was already in the sin bin for a tackle off the ball, and had his stay in the bunker reviewed. All eyes turned to George Ford, as the Sale man took up the challenge of a 78th minute match-winning shot at goal.
Too add even more drama, Ford’s effort clattered off the post! The back-peddling All Blacks panicked, and spilt the ball forward for a scrum on the 5m line. The emotional rollercoaster hit its peak at the Allianz, as the forwards packed down for the final play of the match. The phases rolled on with baited breath, as George Ford waited in the pocket for the last-ditch drop goal.
Ford then called for the ball, but sent the heroic effort wide of the mark! Heartbreak for England in the last play of the game, as the All Blacks rejoiced in jubilant celebration. An incredible end to an epic encounter to ignite this Autumn Nations Series, the full time score would remain England 22 – 24 New Zealand, by the finest of margins.
ENGLAND: 22
Tries: 1 (Feyi-Waboso 45′)
Conversions: 1 (Smith 45′)
Penalties: 5 (Smith 5′, 13′, 30′, 36′, 59′)
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
15. George Furbank 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 13. Henry Slade 12. Ollie Lawrence 11. Tommy Freeman 10. Marcus Smith 9. Ben Spencer 1. Ellis Genge 2. Jamie George 3. Will Stuart 4. Maro Itoje 5. George Martin 6. Chandler Cunningham-South 7. Tom Curry 8. Ben Earl
Replacements: 16. Theo Dan 17. Fin Baxter 18. Dan Cole 19. Nick Isiewke 20. Ben Curry 21. Alex Dombrandt 22. Harry Randall 23. George Ford
NEW ZEALAND: 24
Tries: 3 (Tele’a 10′, 77′ Jordan 28′)
Conversions: 3 (B.Barrett 10′, 28′, 77′)
Penalties: 1 (McKenzie 67′)
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 1 (Lienert-Brown 77′)
Red Cards: 0
15. Will Jordan 14. Mark Tele’a 13. Reiko Ioane 12. Jordie Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 10. Beauden Barrett 9. Cortez Ratima 1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Codie Williams 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett 5. Tupou Vaa’i 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea
Replacements: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Patrick Tuipulotu 20. Samipeni Finau 21. Cam Roigard 22. Anton Lienert-Brown 23. Damian McKenzie
Still to come… post-match reactions from England and New Zealand
