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 3-14 New Zealand, 37 minutes
This is probably the toughest test of Jack van Poortvliet’s young career, and the scrum-half is struggling a little. Scott Barrett has plenty of time to ready his charge down with the Leicester nine not assembling any blocking bodies, and Barrett smothers his kick.
New Zealand earn a penalty and return to the England half, from where they launch a maul.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 36 minutes
And that’s a bit of a let off for England - New Zealand fail to throw the lineout and are free kicked.
Owen Farrell kicks the free kick out up near halfway. Codie Taylor needs a new set of arrows - his latest dart drifts off line.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 35 minutes
England’s scrum is solid, though the option to go blind rather less so. Jonny May is isolated and momentum is lost - and to make matters worse for the home side, May was up too soon to take Jack van Poortvliet’s pass. Offside penalty for New Zealand.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 34 minutes
Ethan de Groot asks Mathieu Raynal to look more closely at Kyle Sinckler’s bind as he prepares for the next scrummaging engagement. Down it goes, and Raynal swaps sides before the reset to have a slightly more detailed look.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 33 minutes
The All Blacks are looking pretty menacing every time they spot a sliver of open space. Their latest cross-kick lands in the hands of Rieko Ioane, who offloads to Jordie Barrett.
Barrett in turn finds Mark Telea, and Aaron Smith is there in support, too. Ioane is quickly up with him, but can’t gather a blind pop inside cleanly, Owen Farrell’s firm challenge to the centre’s ribs ensuring that the ball hits the deck. England scrum feed.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 32 minutes
Mathieu Raynal has advice for both front rows as the scrum goes down. It works, the second attempt much more stable, allowing Billy Vunipola space to stomp up the blindside.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 31 minutes
But the lineout throw that comes as a result of it is off-line, drifting to the England side. It is clawed back acrobatically by Sam Whitelock, but England will have the scrum. You’d question the benefit the All Blacks enjoyed from the askew nature of the throw, but it definitely wasn’t straight.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 30 minutes
New Zealand’s stumpier forwards capitalise on the work of their tall trees by winning a scrum penalty.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 28 minutes
There’s that maul defence! Tom Curry is engulfed by Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, more than 240 caps and plenty of sinewy muscle wrapping up the ball-carrier and winning turnover ball.
England 3-14 New Zealand, 27 minutes
Disappointed oohs from the crowd as Owen Farrell fails to find touch with a penalty after Jonny May had been taken high in the tackle.
Farrell gets another go almost immediately afterwards, this time on the right after Rieko Ioane hared off too soon in pursuit of a New Zealand kick. Offside; England return to the All Blacks 22.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments