11/15/25 02:38:00
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11/15 14:36 CST England downs New Zealand at Twickenham and ends All Blacks'
Grand Slam hopes
England downs New Zealand at Twickenham and ends All Blacks' Grand Slam hopes
LONDON (AP) --- England defeated New Zealand for the first time at Twickenham
in 13 years, winning 33-19 to end the All Blacks' Grand Slam hopes on Saturday.
England was behind 12-0 early but rallied impressively with 25 straight points
and 33 of the last 40 for a crushing milestone result.
A 10th straight win since February --- England's longest streak in nearly a
decade --- was also the most esteemed yet in coach Steve Borthwick's three-year
reign.
England beat the All Blacks infrequently, only nine times in 120 years.
"The most exciting thing I find for this team right now is that we left a load
of points out there," Borthwick said. "We got held up over the goal-line and
there were a couple of knock-ons in the 22 when it looked like we were about to
score.
"That tells me there's a huge amount of growth in this team because we were
playing the No. 2 side in the world. We'll enjoy this, it's another great
memory that the players have made and then we'll go on to next Sunday and try
and make another memory against Argentina."
Meanwhile, the All Blacks' bid to sweep the home unions for the first time in
15 years, after beating Ireland and Scotland, was blown away.
"England pulled the rug from under us. It is hugely disappointing," All Blacks
captain Scott Barrett said.
Will Jordan's 45th test try lifted them to within six points with 15 minutes to
go but even with Ben Earl in the sin-bin England finished strong.
A George Ford penalty gave England a decisive nine-point gap with five to go
and winger Tom Roebuck put the cherry on top with a late try from a dropped All
Blacks pass.
Ford was named the man of the match, a year after the flyhalf was booed off
Twickenham for missing a late penalty and drop goal in a two-point loss to the
All Blacks.
"I know you like to talk about 12 months ago and the ball hitting a post, but
he came on 12 months ago and played really well, as he always does for
England," Borthwick said. "When he pulls on the England shirt he is just such a
consistent performer."
Ford, picked at flyhalf ahead of British and Irish Lions Fin Smith and Marcus
Smith for his greater experience and composure, was three of five off the tee
but it was his two drop goals before halftime that gave England boosts of hope
and energy.
The double drops lifted England to within one point at halftime, and three
minutes after the break they were finally ahead on Sam Underhill's try
converted by Ford.
Ford had a try scrubbed by an offside penalty but even after New Zealand hooker
Codie Taylor returned from the sin-bin, Fraser Dingwall blew over the try-line
running off his midfield partner Ollie Lawrence.
New Zealand took advantage of Earl's yellow card for Jordan's converted try but
England finished the match as it started, on fire.
England met the haka in a U formation and enjoyed a lively start, though it was
well contained by New Zealand.
The All Blacks were clinical at the other end, easily getting wide of England
with big passes by Beauden Barrett and Quinn Tupaea for tries by Leicester
Fainga'anuku and Taylor in a four-minute span.
But England's attack was transformed by the passing skills of Marcus Smith, who
replaced Freddie Steward after the fullback suffered a head knock.
Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was unleashed and Lawrence busted two tackles to
score and England was on its way.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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