Match Report: England vs New Zealand (Rugby Union) 15.11.25

At the start of the match, England came flying out of the traps at the All Blacks and were really pushing forward in attack and putting the NZ defence under a lot of pressure.

After 14 minutes, it is, however, the All Blacks, who manage to strike first with Leicester Fainga’anuku driving through and scoring a try with Beaudan Barrett unable to convert. 5-0.l

A few minutes later and Codie Taylor manages to latch onto the ball after it is taken wide by Will Jordan. Another quick successive try and England are right having to play catch up rugby. They were favourites going into the game. The Home crowd at the Allianz stadium is silent. 12-0 to the All Blacks.

Enlgand start to apply the pressure in their fight back and spend the next period camped out in the New Zealand 22. The fightback proves successful as Ollie Lawrence sidesteps Beaudan Barrett and goes through to the line to score. George Ford misses the conversion kick. 12-5 to the All Blacks. We have a game on our hands.

A penalty from George Ford brings England to within touching distance just before half-time. Ford strikes again with an open play drop goal too, as England continue to drive the impetus. One point in it at the end of the first period. 12-11 is the score: to New Zealand.

At the start of the second half England come out with no holds barred. Codie Taylor gets sin-binned for New Zealand. England get rewarded for their pressure with Sam Underhill crashing over the line to score and go into the lead at 18-12.

George Ford makes an excellent run and gets past everyone to score but unfortunately for England the ref disallows it so the score remains at 18-12.

At 54 minutes, New Zealand make quite a radical change and on his 101st cap, Beaudan Barrett is sacrificed for McKenzie. Immediately afterwards, England extend their lead with a try after Ollie Lawrence passes the ball out to Fraser Dingwall to score and put the home side at a clear advantage. 25-12. It is starting to look insurmountable for the All Blacks now, after they initially led the game from the start. All downhill for New Zealand since then, unfortunately.

Consistent All Black pressure in the England danger zone leads to McKenzie putting through Jordan in the centre to bring the game back into almost parity as New Zealand break their silence and score one back. 25-19, a converted try separates the sides with fifteen minutes to go.

at 75 minutes, George Ford kicks a penalty to give England a bit of final breathing space in the game. 28-19 to England. Ford has certainly been performing all game and most probably is the stand out player of the match.
A loose ball leads to Henry Pollocks kicking it through for Tom Roebuck to score a try and pretty much bury the game beyond All Black reach. We go into the final moments of the game with the score at 33-19 advantage to England.

The game finishes with England victorious and putting in the All Blacks quest for a Northern Hemisphere tour Grand Slam. England deserved to win and New Zealand really let themselves down and could have done better.