England 6 - 19 New Zealand: Ring around the rose

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 19:39

ENGLAND ultimately fell to an eighth straight defeat to New Zealand but Martin Johnson's embattled team succeeded in restoring some pride at the end of an otherwise miserable autumn.

For the best part of an hour, England stood toe-to-toe with the All Blacks, almost unrecognisable from the cowering, anxious team that scraped to victory over Argentina seven days ago.

Two penalties from Jonny Wilkinson had carried England into the break level at 6-6, thanks partly to two simple misses from All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter.

In the final analysis, England did not have the attacking composure to push New Zealand right to the limit and the All Blacks sealed victory in the second half, with Jimmy Cowan's try proving the difference.

England's attacking failings remain a concern, with only one try in three Tests and no points again after the interval, but this was the performance Johnson had demanded, packed with fight, industry and endeavour.

England's best-laid plans had to be redrawn after barely two minutes when Joe Worsley, recalled for his tenacious defensive work, limped out of the action. But it did nothing to dilute England's physical approach as Johnson's men started with an edge and a dynamism that was so woefully lacking against Argentina.

Past experiences have proven the only way to beat New Zealand is to match them for muscle and right from the kick-off England were in the face of the All Blacks. Lewis Moody chased tirelessly to put Carter under pressure and this week he was not a lone operator, with James Haskell, Matt Banahan and Simon Shaw a willing supporting cast.

Carter was under constant pressure from Moody and even when he tested Mark Cueto, the new England full-back responded in confident fashion under the high ball.

Seven days ago England played as if scared of their own shadows. Today, Paul Hodgson's darting run through the line-out caught the All Blacks briefly unawares and brought tempo to the game.

England received an early let-off when Carter missed a straightforward penalty but when the All Blacks spread play wide, Borthwick was on hand to scrag Cowan at the back of a ruck. This was the kind of on-field leadership England had been crying out for. Borthwick, perhaps emboldened by the return of Shaw alongside him, was enjoying one of his best games in recent memory.

England's high-pressure defence was unsettling the All Blacks and Ugo Monye was unfortunate not to score the opening try after a shuddering midfield tackle. He scooped up the loose ball and stretched to touch down next to the posts but referee Jonathan Kaplan ruled Monye had knocked the ball forward in the tackle.

England did take the lead soon after with a penalty from Wilkinson before New Zealand provided a glimpse of their quality as Carter slipped a pass to Mils Muliaina out the back of his hand. Muliaina arrowed for the corner but Monye covered brilliantly and, with Croft's assistance, forced the All Black full-back into touch just before he grounded the ball.

Carter and Wilkinson exchanged penalties to make it 6-6. England were determined to play with their heads up and Cueto tried to run from his own 22 but was caught.

New Zealand began to up the pressure and Payne was penalised again at the scrum but Carter, inexplicably, missed once again. Immediately after the restart, Borthwick, Shaw and Moody combined to win a vital turnover inside the England 22.

Carter edged New Zealand ahead after recovering the All Blacks' platform with a brilliant touch-finder and New Zealand almost broke England's line with a scything run from Muliaina.

England responded defiantly. Steve Thompson replaced Hartley, whose line-out accuracy had deserted him, David Wilson came on for Duncan Bell and at the very next scrum England won possession against the head.

But after threatening a breakthrough for so long, New Zealand found it just before the hour mark when Cowan launched a blindside raid from the back of a ruck. Slick off-loads from Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richie McCaw opened the space for Cowan to score in the corner, although the final pass appeared to be forward.

Carter opened a 10-point gap with the touchline conversion but Johnson's message all week had been not to get anxious if the All Blacks score.

Immediately from the restart, Shaw charged down a Carter clearance, Thompson bulldozed downfield, England won a penalty and went for touch.

New Zealand repelled England's first attack and then Wilkinson missed with a golden drop-goal attempt from right underneath the posts.

Shane Geraghty came on for Ayoola Erinle but England's composure began to crack, forcing passes that were not on and three All Black defenders were able to march isolated Monye 20 yards back in the tackle. Muliaina sliced past Geraghty and Wilkinson with another elusive break and although he was bundled into touch, England were soon penalised and Carter slotted the points.

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter admitted his side had been below their best, but was happy to maintain their perfect record on a European tour during which their try line remains unbreached.

"It was tough but we are happy to get a win at Twickenham," he said. "It is never easy and there are certainly parts of our game we need to improve on.

"It was greasy today so we have to take that into account, but there are still things that we will have to work on during the week. Defensively we were very sound. We pride ourselves defensively – that's where the attitude of the team comes from. But in terms of our attacking ability we have got to hold on to the ball more and build the phases. You take the good with the bad."

England: M Cueto (Sale Sharks); M Banahan (Bath), D Hipkiss (Leicester), A Erinle (Biarritz), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), P Hodgson (London Irish); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Bell (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), J Haskell (Stade Francais).

Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins), S Geraghty (Northampton), M Tait (Sale Sharks).

New Zealand: M Muliaina, Z Guildford, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu, D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks, B Thorn, T Donnelly, A Thomson, R McCaw (capt), K Read.

Replacements: C Flynn, A de Malmanche, J Afoa, A Boric, J Kaino, A Ellis, S Donald, T Ellison.

Scorers: England – Pen: Wilkinson 2. New Zealand – Try: Cowan. Con: Carter. Pen: Carter 4.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).

FORWARD PROGRESS

ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson believes his injury-hit side are making progress despite yesterday's defeat at Twickenham, although he admitted they missed a chance to run the world's top-ranked team closer.

"I definitely think we are moving forward. That may not be reflected on the field and I can understand people who might disagree with thatbut as a group they have been fantastic. I have mixed feelings because the players stuck at it and played well at times," Johnson said.

"But if you look at it we had the chance to put the All Blacks under pressure and we haven't taken it."

He added: "There was a chance to be in the game. I'm not saying we could have ever have won it, but we had chances in that second half to be in the game. The breakdown was the big difference. They are very smart around the breakdown and that was the big difference in the end. They had players there that were always competing.

"It was one of those games where it is wet and when you get pressure on the opposition it can cause mistakes. It was who could nail the other team and in the end it was them. The try was the difference. I'm disappointed to concede a try like that."