Pain, again. England’s attempt to break the record at Eden Park was thwarted as Mark Telea’s second try avoided the threat of a major upset.
As in the first Test seven days ago, Steve Borthwick’s side led their proud opponents until midway through the second half, and in a repeat of the brutal script of the series opener in Dunedin, which ended 16-15, the All Blacks extinguished England’s hopes.
The visitors were hoping to make history by becoming the first visiting team to successfully storm the Kiwi rugby stronghold since France won there in 1994. The All Blacks have won 46 and drawn just two of their subsequent 48 Tests at Eden Park. No challenger has ever conquered them, but this time England came very close.
They were leading 17-13 going into the final quarter after first-half tries from wing Emmanuel Paye-Waboso and Tommy Freeman, and the All Blacks were shaken. Maro Itoje was excellent again and a number of England players, including Ben Earl and captain Jamie George, played to near-stop in heroic displays of commitment, but were brutally denied.
After Telea put Scott Robertson’s side back ahead with a 62nd-minute goal, Damian McKenzie converted two penalties to give them a seven-point lead, which they held on to. But they had to fight until the end against fierce resistance. In the dying moments, England attacked hard in search of a try, with George being denied on the last play of the game.
New Zealand’s Mark Tele scored a second try late in the game, which ultimately proved to be the deciding score of the game.
England won narrowly at home against the home team but will regret wasting their chances in both games against New Zealand.
So close, yet so far. The result means Borthwick’s side lost the series 2-0 but could have won both Tests. With a young line-up, they were very competitive against one of the leading nations in world rugby. They will be shattered by this setback, but when the dust settles, England can still take heart from how far they have come during the marathon season that began in June last year.
They wanted to start a great weekend of sport with a win on the other side of the world. Now George and Co will be looking forward to watching the footballers play in the Euro final tomorrow. They start the long journey home and prepare for a well-deserved rest.
It was a tough start from the start, and Steward endured a difficult start to his first game in eight weeks. The Leicester full-back was ambushed as he attempted to retake the kick with 2:22 left, but the All Blacks overpowered him and left the ball behind as Earl was able to break up the field.
The warning sounded for the visitors after five minutes when Stephen Peropeta drove deep inside his own half and Damien McKenzie chipped in before the New Zealand No. 10 gathered Jody Barrett and released him. He blasted past Cody Taylor but the hooker was pushed out and tackled well by Freeman as he raced to the England 22-yard line.
The All Blacks were clearly in the lead early on and it was no surprise when they went ahead with a try in the 11th minute. The home side won an aggressive free kick that struck the heart of the English defence and Ardi Savea was able to charge powerfully towards the line. The ball was played to the left and when Itoje was swept wide in a ruck, Mark Telea had space to twist around in the corner despite a dedicated cover tackle from Fay-Waboso.
MacKenzie switched well from the angle and there was an ominous feeling that the All Blacks were in a groove and ready to cause mayhem. Instead, England struck back almost immediately.
Telea gave the home side the perfect start after a smart first-half finish.
England responded quickly with a try from winger Emmanuel Faye-Waboso (pictured) before Tommy Freeman added another for the visitors.
Steve Borthwick’s team surged ahead, taking a four-point lead into the final quarter of the game.
Freeman made a strong tackle from Peropeta and when the ball came back to Smith, his cross picked out Pay-Waboso in space. The Exeter winger finished brilliantly through the gap past Telea. Smith converted and everything was square.
New Zealand were back and the pendulum swung again. Smith’s right-footed kick produced a brilliant overlap for the home side as Telea and Perofeta made lightning runs down the flank, but Telea’s final pass was not on target and Smith chased down the line to snatch the ball with a dramatic intervention.
At the end of the first quarter, a penalty from Mackenzie made it 10-7, and two minutes before the break, he added another three-pointer to extend the team’s lead to six. England had a lot of possession and territory, but their ambitions were undermined by minor handling errors and erratic decision-making. They were in the game, but they couldn’t withstand the pressure.
But there were mistakes on the other side and the tension continued. Then, towards the end of the first half, England scored again. The visitors took advantage by cutting through midfield and scored brilliantly. Smith repeated his previous assist with a high kick down the right wing, and this time Freeman rose brilliantly to collect the ball over his head and touch down. Smith added another brilliantly from the touchline to put England 14-13 ahead at half-time.
They took control again and picked up where they left off after the break. In the 45th minute, England were awarded a penalty at half-time and cleared for a touchdown on the right. On the ensuing lineout, Ollie Lawrence played the ball but Jamie George knocked it on when he next attempted to make contact.
Marcus Smith put on a kicking clinic in the first leg, providing two expert passes for England’s tries.
Cebu Reese (centre) celebrates after his team’s hard-fought 2-0 win over England.
The All Blacks were able to clear, but not for long. Another penalty was awarded on the visitors’ next attacking lineout and Smith fired a shot at goal to extend the Reds’ lead to four points. It wasn’t much, but there was a distinct sense that New Zealand were shaken.
For a while the game became more tricky and messy, with clear scoring opportunities coming and going without a clear goal. But with 18 minutes remaining, the All Blacks broke the deadlock in style. MacKenzie unleashed substitute fullback Beauden Barrett, whose pass freed Telea to score again in the left corner.
MacKenzie failed to convert but added a penalty in the 69th minute and another in the 75th as England’s tired resistance finally seemed to be fading. They summoned the will to rage against the fading light, but it was not to be.
