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:
Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 51 minutes
Outstanding defence from Argentina! Scotland, surprisngly, opt to extract the ball from a scrum as it rumbles on, but Finn Russell is caught behind the gain line and the ball spills away.
YELLOW CARD! Tomas Lavanini is sent to the sin bin! Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 50 minutes
Another card! Karl Dickson reaches into the shuffler and pulls out another yellow, gestured to Tomas Lavanini, historically a regular offender.
This one is a technical offence, Lavanini a speedbump bringing down a runaway tanker of a Scottish maul. Argentina lose a second lock in as many minutes.
YELLOW CARD! Matias Alemanno is sent to the sin bin! Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 49 minutes
Yellow this time! Jonny Gray immediately looked to the referee, feeling Alemanno’s clavicle making contact with his forehead as the Scottish lock began to vacate the ruck area. The force isn’t necessarily high, which saves Alemanno stiffer punishment - but Los Pumas drop to 13 men.
Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 49 minutes
It’s another of Argentina’s large forward units who may be in trouble - Matias Alemanno’s shoulder is quite close to a Scottish head.
Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 49 minutes
But Scotland’s lineout hasn’t been quite so good of late, Juan Martin Gonzalez springing up like a geyser to slap back Fraser Brown’s latest throw.
Check, check - TMO Brett Cronan has spotted something that requires a look. Referee Karl Dickson saunters over to the big screen.
Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 47 minutes
Finn Russell’s numbers today are quite delightful - nine carries, 77 metres, six (!) offloads. It’s been mighty good so far from a man who allegedly began this autumn campaign as his country’s fourth-choice fly-half...
Scotland earn a scrum penalty. Argentina, remember, are down to 14 after Marcos Kremer’s first-half sending off.
Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 45 minutes
Argentine hands pinch a Scottish lineout, giving the visitors possession in advanced territory again. Emiliano Boffelli further advances his side with an impressive high claim that hops from left hand to right and back to left before eventually ending up in his breadbasket, but Tomas Lavanini’s handling is less pleasing. Knock on.
Scotland 24-15 Argentina, 44 minutes
That’s almost lovely from Argentina! Los Pumas earn a lineout near the Scottish 22, and try something fun at the front, Julian Montoya connecting with the lineout catcher in a manner than Fraser Brown failed to do so when Scotland looked for something similar early in the first half.
There are enough Scottish bodies back to fell Montoya and force him to knock on, but it is a reminder of Argentina’s threat.
TRY! SCOTLAND 24-15 Argentina (Darcy Graham try, 42 minutes)
A brilliant Scottish try!
How good has Finn Russell been today? It’s magnificent again from the fly-half, needing only a sliver to again scurry free and release a side-door flicked offload for a third or fourth time this afternoon.
Stuart Hogg is there to take it from his great mate, cannily angling back infield to force the last defender to square up, opening enough room on the outside for Darcy Graham to frolic over.
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