England vs New Zealand LIVE: Rugby result and reaction as England complete incredible comeback to snatch draw
England 25-25 New Zealand: Will Stuart scored two tries as England produced an incredible comeback from 25-6 down with nine minutes to go
England burgled an outrageous 25-25 draw from New Zealand after being out of the running for most of the match, a late brace from Will Stuart helping them to a result which will nonetheless do little to quieten coach Eddie Jones’s critics.
Flanker Dalton Papali’i opened the scoring for New Zealand after just four minutes, appearing to read an English strike play off the tail of their lineout and intercepting Jack van Poortvliet’s pass to run 45 metres untouched. They added a second minutes later, Codie Taylor bundling over from a lineout after England were penalised at the scrum, and the hosts were in bad shape at 0-14 down inside ten minutes.
With England’s attack misfiring all day while New Zealand were for the most part clinical, adding a third through Rieko Ioane, it took until the final 10 minutes for some encouragement for the fractious home fans.
With seemingly nothing to lose, England exploded out of nowhere, Marcus Smith skipping through a gap to set up a close-range Stuart try and Freddie Steward rounding off a free-flowing attack to add another. The Twickenham crowd were delirious when Stuart went over again in the final minute, with Smith converting to complete a remarkable comeback.
Relive all from the autumn international between England and the All Blacks below:
England 6-22 New Zealand, 57 minutes
An entirely new front row for England, with messrs. George, M.Vunipola and Stuart called in.
Jordie Barrett leaves George flat on his back with a mightily physical carry, but when big brother Scott tries to do something similar to Tom Curry, the blindside flanker is felled and left prone, forcing a teammate to go off their feet. Penalty to England.
England 6-22 New Zealand, 55 minutes
It’s all gone a little flat at Twickenham with the All Blacks in control. New Zealand attack from the back of a scrum, playing to the left, but Owen Farrell marks Richie Mo’unga’s arc perfectly, wrestling the fly-half to floor.
Tom Curry spots a ruck left vacant by the All Blacks and begins to harry Aaron Smith, who flicks a wild NFL-style snap into the referee behind him. Scrum, New Zealand ball.
Here is that stunning Rieko Ioane try:
England 6-22 New Zealand, 53 minutes
That is that for Van Poortvliet, who has endured a tough 50 minutes or so. Ben Youngs is on in his place at scrum half.
There is another change, and a slightly more surprising one - Manu Tuilagi, who has carried impressively but been glimpsed perhaps too frequently, takes leave with Henry Slade on in the centres.
England 6-22 New Zealand, 53 minutes
Another chance missed by England! Owen Farrell delivers a lovely miss ball at the line, putting Luke Cowan-Dickie into a hole. Jordie Barrett snares his shoelaces, and England look to play with haste, but Jack van Poortvliet’s arm is snared as he tries to release the pass and the ball spills forward.
TRY! England 6-22 NEW ZEALAND (Rieko Ioane try, 50 minutes)
Simply sensational!
Utter, utter brilliance from the All Blacks, who go virtually the length of the field. Sam Simmonds knocks on as he carries into a brace of New Zealand forwards.
Advantage is coming, and New Zealand play. Beauden Barrett steps into first receiver and spots space on the left for Caleb Clarke to run into. Barrett’s kick is perfect, allowing Clarke to rush in, gather, and drop a deft little switch ball to Rieko Ioane.
From there, it is pure gas. Ioane has Manu Tuilagi well beaten and sears up the left touchline, beating a covering Jonny May on the angle to slide into the corner.
England 6-17 New Zealand, 48 minutes
Not for the first time this evening, a punted penalty fails to find touch. England return to New Zealand and Mark Telea, who flings in field.
The All Blacks are penalised for offside as Beauden Barrett slices his up-and-under towards a group of retreating forwards, who fail to traipse back quite far enough.
England 6-17 New Zealand, 47 minutes
New Zealand put their maul to work, the carriages latching on as the locomotive pulls out of the station and making quick progress up the right. England come in from the side to knock it off the rails.
England 6-17 New Zealand, 45 minutes
England’s forwards bash on the door, punching away close in. Maro Itoje goes close, but is ruled just short.
Up goes Mathieu Raynal’s arm, the crowd roaring their approval...but it’s for a New Zealand penalty! England seal off with All Black jackalers in position to pounce, and it’s another chance gone for the hosts.
England 6-17 New Zealand, 44 minutes
Away goes Manu Tuilagi! A delightful delay from Marcus Smith to put the centre into a gap and Tuilagi charges to within five metres.
A brave, technically sound tackle to halt him, but England have a penalty.
Luke Cowan-Dickie taps it quickly!
England 6-17 New Zealand, 43 minutes
Another penalty for the home side. Jack Nowell taps back a high kick and Ardie Savea can’t resist swiping his paw through the cookie jar with the lid left slightly open. Mathieu Raynal whistles him for arriving at the side; England kick codwn to the New Zealand 22.
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