New Zealand produced another trademark escape act to overcome a belligerent England 24-21 in a waterlogged rugby Test at Twickenham on Saturday.
In a match billed by some as a potential World Cup final between the reigning champions (New Zealand) and the 2015 tournament hosts (England), the All Blacks’ greater rugby nous told as they recorded their fifth straight win over the Red Rose brigade following a 3-0 home series victory in June.
England were 14-11 up at half-time but New Zealand, with captain Richie McCaw scoring a try, hit back in the rain-lashed second half before a last-minute penalty try for the hosts narrowed the gap.
“It felt like we had control for most of the game, bar those last few minutes,” McCaw told Sky Sports.
“We are just happy that our last visit to Twickenham of the season is a win,” man-of-the-match McCaw added.
“Ten months is a long time in rugby though, we will have to see if it has any affect at the World Cup.”
Disappointed England captain Chris Robshaw, like McCaw an openside flanker, said: “The first half we played really well in the right areas.
“Unfortunately in the second half the conditions came down and we could not get field position.”
England kicked-off buoyed by the memory of their record 38-21 win over New Zealand at Twickenham in 2012 and they gave a Test debut to Fiji-born wing Semesa Rokoduguni, a serving British Army soldier.
But their task was not helped by the absence of seven injured British and Irish Lions — Dan Cole, Alex Corbisiero, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi, as well as lock Joe Launchbury and centre Luther Burrell.
New Zealand’s matchday 23 boasted more than double the number of caps than England’s squad, while All Blacks wing Julian Savea, with 29 tries in 30 Tests had scored more than England (20 tries) had managed between them.
Despite their relative lack of experience, it took England just four minutes to open the scoring in dramatic style.
The ball was worked wide to left wing Jonny May, who promptly went round New Zealand centre Conrad Smith and then went past Israel Dagg, when it seemed the fullback had lined him up, before going in at the corner for his first international try.
New Zealand hit back in the 14th minute following their first visit to England’s 22.
All Blacks wing Ben Smith beat May in an aerial challenge and the ball was then spun wide, with blindside flanker Jerome Kaino bursting between England captain Chris Robshaw and lock Courtney Lawes.
From a close-range ruck, referee Nigel Owens ruled fly-half Aaron Cruden had just done enough to touch the try-line.
Owen Farrell then kicked two penalties to take England into an 11-5 lead before Cruden responded with two of his own.
Farrell missed a drop-goal but on the stroke of half-time, after McCaw infringed at a ruck, the fly-half kicked England into a 14-11 lead.
New Zealand led for the first time in the match when McCaw crossed after the break to put the visitors 16-14 in front.
New Zealand were a man down when Dane Coles was shown a yellow card in the 57th minute for kicking out at opposing hooker Hartley.
Replacement fly-half Beauden Barrett missed his first close-range penalty but made no mistake with his second to make it 19-14 to the All Blacks.
And then wave after wave of New Zealand attacks was rewarded with a first Test try for replacement prop Charlie Faumuina nine minutes from time.
Next weekend England face in-form South Africa at Twickenham while New Zealand play Scotland at Murrayfield.
steve french
Roar Rookie
Legit TRY?????? I'll point you towards Law 15 Section (b)
steve french
Roar Rookie
I'm not interested in one still photo of a video.....that doest tell any story whatsoever. And my problem isn't with the ball touching the line (which is borderline anyway) it's with the Law 15 section (b) A tackled player can push the ball along the floor in any direction except FORWARDS. He broke this Law.... end of story. That completely changed the game as it was NZ first try. OWENS HATES the English.
steve french
Roar Rookie
Nice argument.... reply well thought through and delivered with amazing articulation and credibility. You are a credit to your country.
steve french
Roar Rookie
Ok ill have to take another look at that.....and if this is correct I will stand corrected. But Cruden's try wasn't legit. LAW 15 Section (B) states...if a player is tackled they may push the ball along the floor in any direction except forward. He PUSHED the ball along the floor forwards and this shouldn't be confused with PLACING the ball over the line with momentum. The NZ fans on here must have had their view obscured by that Fern they're standing behind.
steve french
Roar Rookie
To whoever likes quoting laws... Regarding Cruden's try, I will point you towards Law 15 Section (B) which states- A tackled player (which cruden was) may release the ball immediately by pushing it along the ground in any direction EXCEPT forward. This was a blatant infringement of the LAWS of the game. And don't get it confused with the law about reaching out and placing the ball over the line in one movement. I'll even provide a link so you can watch. Now if you argue against this then I can't carry on talking on here. We all want a fair game and this wasn't fair. Owens WAS wrong and just because he was in a good position doesn't mean he was correct. Aaron Cruden try - England vs New Zealand 08 11 2…: http://youtu.be/w7TPNY8ECnE
Jerry
Guest
No idea what he was signaling. I thought there probably was some downward pressure. I'm no physicist but if the far end of the ball rises when a hand is placed on the near end, that suggests the hand is pushing downwards.
Jerry
Guest
I suspect that's cause a team that's been penalised a couple of times is hesitant and therefore vulnerable and more likely to get shoved back. And yes, there are times when the ref goes for a PT when a try is not really probable following repeated penalties (I don't think a try was probable for the Owens PT to be honest) - but that's bad reffing and should be criticised, not dismissed.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Birdy is there going to a moratorium on injuries to the English players next year? Injuries are part of the game & I don't think that the English clubs are going to cotton wool any player because the RU asks them to.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Where I think that people are getting riled up about the word 'escape' is that the AB's did not have to pull out a last minute score to win a match they looked like losing. They were in control & did not look like losing the game after McCaw scored.
DC-NZ
Guest
my AB backline for the Scotland clash. 9 TJ Perenara 10 DC 11 Savea 12 SBW 13 Crotty 14 Piutau 15 B Smith
IronAwe
Guest
This isnt glaring incompetance?? It was a 50-50 call at best. They went to TMO, they didn't see any 'downward pressure, ruled a knock on. There is NOTHING to be upset about here? I thought Owens had a good game myself, and I'm not impartial as an Aussie, I support all the SH teams against the north. I was genuinely surprised to see the whinge machine in action after this game.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Steve - Whitelock was onside. Not because the English halfback touched the ball but rather because the ball touched the goal line. That made the ball in goal & ended the ruck (you can not have a ruck in goal under Law 16.6). Whitelock was then legal in making a play at the ball. Good awareness of the laws of the game from Whitelock.
Dave
Guest
Blah Blah Blah Cruden's debatebale, but Owens right there and there is a photo on Planet Rugby showing the ball on the line. Should have been a yellow card for at least one of the Poms after the SBW break, cynical foul on the try line stopped a certain try out wide. Whitelock- only needed to touch the ball, which he did before it was propelled forward, certain try PT- how is it certain that was going to be a try?- both front rows standing up and crabbing sideways. At best a Yellow Card against the ABs Yes, ABs on the slide- only 44 out of the last 47 won.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Very doubtful the Bent One is a born and educated Kiwi - look at his rubbish spelling - not indicative of a NZ education, unless he was a resident of Paremoremo or similar all his life... !!
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Sorry, what did you say Mr French? I gave up reading when you said you were half Welsh.....credibility shot right there !
jemainok
Guest
I was always under the impression a penalty try was only awarded when a try would definitely be scored. How many push overs have you seen in the last 10 years?
moaman
Guest
Owen's was exceptionally well-positioned for Cruden's try; down on one knee and peering myopically through a sea of legs.He didn't hesitate to blow. For Whitelock's 'non-try' he appeared to signal something between a knock-on and a 'going upstairs for a look'....think it was left hand held horizontally and right hand vertical--tapping repeatedly on fingertips of left hand. ( Maybe Jerry can explain what that means?)
Wii
Guest
It's not like that at all Iron, Kiwi fans are commenting on the appalling reffereeing in this match and highlighting examples of the incompetence and this is one of those glaring in competencies. As Moa pointed out there are a comedy of errors in this one play.
moaman
Guest
It occured to me that the ball was technically 'dead' before Whitelock made contact; An english hand rolled the ball back to the chalk and then tapped it (presumeably to stop it rolling further)----technically carrying the ball back essentially.
IronAwe
Guest
Agreed. Certain any ref in any game would have awarded a penalty try in that situation.