Unlike last week, England got off to a cracking start - the All Black pack were rattled by some excellent scrummaging. Hayman gave away a penalty whcih Hodgson converted 0-3 after 4 minutes.

New tactic clearly is being employed at the restarts with Ben Cohen being the main catcher. Wonderful strength from the Northampton wing enabled the ball to be quickly recycled and a break from the indomitable Woodman. Wonderful interchanges between Worsley, Hill, Shaw and Abbott almost resulted in an England try - instead the resulting penalty was converted by Hodgson.

Again from the restart, Cohen got the ball and England attacked - the All Blacks were reeling. Then my notebook makes it’s first reference to Keith Robinson - punch on Worsley, Dallaglio acting as peacemaker and referee Williams doing nothing. But 90 seconds later and Robinson was killing the ball - Julian White attempted to ruck him out of the way, Shaw followed up with a knee in the back and enter Stuart Dickinson. I abhor foul play - my reputation on the ComeOnYouSaints website is that I’m a girlie wuss but no way should Shaw have been given red - I’d be hard pushed to recommend a yellow. From the wrong side of the pitch, Dickinson some how worked out that it was Simon Shaw and amazingly went straight to red - there wouldn’t be many players left on the pitch if cards were dished out in such a way in every game. If I were the paying public in New Zealand I’d feel very short changed by the officials.

Still England took the game to the All Blacks - from the resulting attack after the sending off we came very close to scoring a breakaway try, Regan’s ill-discipline costing us dear. Carter converted the penalty 3-6.

Our Sky commentary team were not keeping up at all - Dallaglio moved into the second row and Tindall in the back row - we held the All Black scrum 5 metres out. They were reduced to accidentally kicking the ball out of the scrum and giving away a penalty for offside.

Hodgson remained calmness itself, clearing the ball beautifully. We were attacking and disrupting the All Black forwards - winning scrums from the resulting knocks ons. Gomarsall was moving the ball around the park and giving the ABs all sorts of problems. Now Voyce found himself in the pack and we won a free kick. Amazing performance from the England pack. Still we attacked, Hodgson’s chip over the top was brilliant, Tom Voyce just unable to take the pass.

Then I think the death knell sounded - Abbott who had looked very sharp all evening was forced off with a shoulder injury. The All Blacks started to move the ball very quickly and our defence hadn’t quite got itself organised. We repelled one attack thanks to some brilliant work from Andy Gomarsall and Richard Hill but that man Rokocoko did it again breaking through two tackles to put Carter in for the score. 10-6 which Carter then made 12-6 with the conversion. And the final nail in the coffin - Tindall left the field. Tindall and Abbott are two key defenders and playmakers to lose both with already being one man down was just too much.

We now had a midfield of Hodgson, Barkeley, Waters and despite some heroic defending the All Blacks put England to the sword in the second half. Spencer put high ball after high ball into the midfield and Lewsey missed all bar one. Rokocoko scored twice more and Spencer finished us off. Hodgson replied with two more penalties.

England made several changes with Lipman, Grewcock, Dawson and Stevens coming on in the second half. By then the match was lost but the blooding of some of the new players will put them in good stead.

England’s injustice over Shaw will not be helped by Mealamu’s blatant shoulder charge on Dawson. The inconsistency of refereeing is something that the game’s leaders have to resolve - rugby is a hard game to referee but clearly Stuart Dickinson and Nigel Williams were working off entirely different standards.

My Man of the Match is Lawrence Dallaglio - he shut his critics up, he fired up his troops over and over again, he tackled as if his life depended on it, he made yards and yards time and time again. He took on the poor officiating including Mealamu’s antics at the linout - Nigel Williams needs to watch the video and see the hooker’s movement - one step to the right every time and Dallaglio did the right thing pointing it out over and over again. Lol was seething over Shaw’s red card yet he played fair and square - the hits he put in were bone crunching.

This week I give credit to the All Blacks for their back play but for me the last word goes to our captain who played with the passion and desire being a World Champion is about. Fair play to you Lawrence Dallaglio!

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