Humdinger of a match goes to last-minute goal attempt

The great All Blacks of old this current crop may not be but, as England can attest, never doubt New Zealand’s never-say-die spirit.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

For a third time this year, Scott Robertson’s side were dead and buried at the 60-minute mark only to rise from their tomb like Halloween ghouls to haunt the hosts again.

It had been a long gap between England appearances at their home ground – long enough for Twickenham to have a radical rebrand – but the closing tableau was strikingly similar. Then, it had been Marcus Smith dropping Steve Borthwick’s men to victory as the clock ticked dead; here, with the chance to do the same, George Ford sliced wide to let a first victory over their opponents at home for 12 years slip by.

It was Ford’s second chance at securing a win that England, on merit, perhaps deserved. Moments earlier, the replacement flyhalf had hit the upright with a finely-struck penalty from the 10metre line, the ugly clang puncturing a hush of anticipation. This was the Sale man’s first outing since suffering a quad injury kicking for Sale at the start of October – to be harsh, perhaps the rust showed.

As it was, it was a New Zealand side in need of a lift that secured an improbable win. Scott Robertson’s rebuild is not all going to plan but in back row Wallace Sititi he is moulding quite the shimmering centrepiece, the blindside flanker producing another performance to threaten superstardom. The matchwinner, though, was Mark Tele’a, back to his electric eel-like best after a lean period this year.

“I don’t think George Ford has missed a drop kick in his life,” Robertson said afterwards. “The game had every emotion. It is a special moment for us as a group. I’m pleased, just as much as relieved. It means a lot for us and will galvanise us.”

As an occasion, the first men’s game at the retitled Allianz Stadium delivered in spades. The atmosphere had crackled throughout matchday and then ignited as the hosts marched forward to meet the All Blacks’ haka – after much debate in the week, here was a moment to really sell the sport.