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 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute
Maro Itoje is up well to claim the stabbed kick off.
Ellis Genge delivers an early statement of intent, thumping Sam Whitelock after a long English clearance, but the hosts are offside.
KICK OFF!
Mathieu Raynal blasts his whistle and away we go!
Kick off nears
France’s Mathieu Raynal will oversee things this evening, called in early in the week after Nic Berry was forced to return to Australia for personal reasons. Brian MacNeice is the TMO.
England in white, New Zealand in black. Richie Mo’unga will get things started.
Haka
Twickenham launches in to familiar refrain as the All Blacks assemble for the haka, drowning out New Zealand’s own challenge. The English players gather together, arms over shoulders, presenting a united front. No formational tomfoolery this time - just deep stares into their opponents’ eyes.
Anthems
Two powerful renditions of the anthems, Twickenham in strong voice as it emphasises the final notes of “God Save the King”.
England vs New Zealand
The ground rises for the national anthems.
England vs New Zealand
Flamethrowers, fireworks and The White Stripes to stir the crowd as the two sets of players ready themselves in the tunnel. Owen Farrell and Brodie Retallick emerge together, each celebrating cap number 100.
Out come the rest of them to a great roar.
England vs New Zealand
Twickenham is jumping this evening, the first late game of the autumn and some well-oiled fans filling the stands. There’s a real big-match feel to this one - a win for either side would feel a real achievement and evidence of progress with less than a year to go until the World Cup.
Team News - New Zealand
Having played around a little with his selection for the Scotland game last week, Ian Foster names a full-strength side for the final All Blacks game of the year. Brodie Retallick is back available after suspension and is straight back into the starting side. Retallick wins his 100th cap in the second row alongside captain Sam Whitelock, the pair locking in partnership for the 64th time, surpassing Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield’s record tally. Scott Barrett moves to blindside flanker.
Richie Mo’unga returns to partner Aaron Smith in the halves, while Jordie Barrett is back in the inside centre shirt he is starting to make his own – Barrett and Rieko Ioane’s battle with Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi could be key. Mark Telea, a two-try debutant last week, remains on the right wing
New Zealand XV: E de Groot, C Taylor, T Lomax; B Retallick, S Whitelock (capt.), S Barrett, D Papali’i, A Savea; A Smith, R Mo’unga; C Clarke, J Barrett, R Ioane, M Telea; B Barrett.
Replacements: S Taukei’aho, G Bower, N Laulala, S Frizell, H Sotutu; TJ Perenara, D Havili, A Lienert-Brown
Team News - England
Owen Farrell becomes just England’s third male centurion, captaining the side from inside centre and reunited with Manu Tuilagi, who steps into the starting line-up after a 20-minute “top-up” off the bench against Japan. Jack Nowell was a late scratch last week but his abdominal injury has healed, while Jack van Poortvliet retains his place ahead of Ben Youngs at scrum-half.
Up front, the balance of the back row catches the eye – Eddie Jones has suggested that his preference for a third proficient lineout jumper may be less critical this week, perhaps recalling how Tom Curry and Sam Underhill so dismantled New Zealand in Yokohama in 2019. Sam Simmonds thus starts on the flank for the first time at international level, with Maro Itoje one row further forward than he has been the last two weeks.Will Stuart is fit to make a return on the bench.
England XV: E Genge, L Cowan-Dickie, K Sinckler; M Itoje, J Hill; S Simmonds, T Curry, B Vunipola; J van Poortvliet, M Smith; J May, O Farrell (capt.), M Tuilagi, J Nowell; F Steward.
Replacements: J George, M Vunipola, W Stuart, D Ribbans, J Willis; B Youngs, H Slade, G Porter
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