New Zealand 13 v England 15

On a very windy night in Wellington New Zealand, England showed their toughness of strength and defence.

A very nervy start for both teams, the game littered with penalties throughout but once again England's defences was superb. Jonny Wilkinson kicked the first penalty within moments of the kick off and New Zealand from that moment on, were never in front.

A hard fought match, New Zealand tried to go through England’s defence then around them. Their fly half Carlos Spencer had a bad day kicking to goal as he had not mastered the wind and at one point early on, after the ball fell over twice during a penalty, he had only 15seconds to convert. He did! Spencer’s missed many penalty kicks today, if they had gone over – who knows how the game might have turned out.

England’s fly half Jonny Wilkinson had an odd start to the match his kicking to goal was immaculate as always, but to touch and down field well he was not himself at all.

The first half was all square and the second half kicked off with the England playing with the wind behind them. England made good yards up the field with some excellent play from the forwards.

Then disaster struck as the wheels came off the ‘Sweet Chariot’, both Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio were sin binned. England down to 13 men and those 13 men became one!

What a performance, the famous ‘All Blacks’ playing against 13 men and England made their way up the park with some wonderful play. Special mention to Ben Cohen here and then a penalty rapier blow from Jonny Wilkinson. The Crowd were silent, England playing with 13 men and they were the team scoring the points.

New Zealand missed their opportunity of scoring a try, even thought they crossed the line at one point the referee deemed no try.

England had another superb passage of play moving up the field to within Drop Goal range and the JW sword went in again for the kill. Or at least that’s what England had thought but then from a high Carlos Spencer kick on, Howlett scored a try for New Zealand and suddenly it was game on again.

It was all getting very tense, the ball moving backwards and forwards to each team. New Zealand threw everything at England during those last few minutes but it was England who won through, confirming they are the NO1 Team in the World today.

England have now set up a mouth watering game for next weekend’s Melbourne encounter with world champions Australia.

Referee: Stuart Dickinson

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