England’s George Ford has missed two last-gasp shots at goal, allowing New Zealand to claim a dramatic but scrappy autumn rugby series opener 24-22 win at Twickenham.
Meanwhile, north of the border in Murrayfield, Scotland — led for the first time by Australia-born skipper Sione Tuipulotu — thrashed an understrength Fiji side 57-17.
At Twickenham, a brilliant solo try by wing Mark Tele’a, converted from the sideline by Damian McKenzie, edged New Zealand into a two-point lead with 3 minutes to go, having trailed 22-14 with 15 minutes to go.
But then Anton Lienert-Brown was sin-binned for a head-on-head tackle and Ford lined up an angled penalty kick from 40 metres with 2 minutes to go.
It rebounded off the right post.
The hosts got a scrum in the 22, though, with the sell-out crowd of 82,000 baying England on, but New Zealand spoiled the scrum, and a rushed drop goal attempt by Ford after the 80-minute hooter flew well wide.
George Ford (right) missed two shots at goal to win the game at the death for England. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
The All Blacks completed a hat-trick of wins against England this year, the margins by a combined 10 points.
“I didn’t think we had that in the end. We got lucky with the penalty kick, but rugby is a game of fine margins and we will take it,” All Blacks number eight Ardie Savea told TNT Sports.
“For us to stay in it and defend the goal line like that, I’m very proud of the boys. England’s pack were bringing line speed and they were putting big shots on us. Glad to get the win.”
England was denied a first home win over the All Blacks since 2012 despite perfect kicking off the tee by Marcus Smith, who went six for six for 17 points, but did miss two attempted drop goals in the first half and turned down the chance at an extra three early in the second.
The result was a setback to England’s hopes of improving on closing out tight games. It has lost four Tests by seven or fewer this year and has a 4-5 win-loss record.
England will take on the Wallabies next up at Twickenham, followed by South Africa and Japan.
Coach Steve Borthwick defended replacing Smith with Ford, and rued losing by “the width of a post”.
“We didn’t get the win we wanted but I think everyone can see this team is developing into a very strong team,” Borthwick said.
“Ultimately this is the width of the post. That’s the reality. It is the width of the post that the result goes one way or the other.”
England delivered a pre-match response to the haka. (Getty Images: CameraSport/Bob Bradford)
Joe Marler’s anti-haka comments dominated the build-up but the inactive England prop came to the game and was seen having a pre-match laugh with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.
Given all the talk, it was perhaps no surprise there was a reaction from England, and with Swing Low blaring out from the capacity crowd, hosts England advanced shoulder-to-shoulder to halfway, to singing interrupted by a roar of approval from the crowd.
The All Blacks advanced as well, to within spitting distance, to answer the call and raise the bar.
Smith kicked the first points and New Zealand replied with its first try when Wallace Sititi’s offload with two defenders on him freed Tele’a into the right corner.
New Zealand responded to another Smith penalty with its second try. Will Jordan scissored off Beauden Barrett and raced 30 metres for his 36th try in his 38th test.
New Zealand led 14-6 after 30 minutes but, while it was creating more chances, it was also making the most mistakes and allowing England to stay in touch.
The All Blacks conceded eight of the nine penalties in the first half, two in the scrum that was so reliable in the Rugby Championship but critically missing loosehead prop Ethan de Groot, who was not selected after breaching team rules.
Smith kicked England within two by half-time and the game was following the script of the two close July tests in New Zealand.
Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso underlined it moments into the new half when he achieved a try in every match against New Zealand this year, finishing off Smith’s intercept on his own 22.
Smith’s fifth penalty gave England a 22-14 lead to start the last quarter, and he was replaced by Ford, who was given his first match in five weeks after a thigh tear, to shepherd England home.
McKenzie came on for Tele’a and nailed his first goal kick in the 67th. But Tele’a was already back on after Beauden Barrett needed a head injury check.
With tension rising, the All Blacks forced a kickable penalty with 5 minutes to go but tapped it. Tele’a was on the end of a chain with the England defence covering but he shrugged off Ford and carried Harry Randall over the try line.
McKenzie’s equally remarkable touchline conversion put New Zealand in front but then its year-long discipline issues reared up when Lienert-Brown was yellow-carded.
But Ford could not seize his chances.
“I tell you what, he hasn’t missed many in his career so we certainly can’t blame him for that,” captain Jamie George said.
Scotland thrash Drua-dominated Fiji
Darcy Graham scored four tries in the lopsided thrashing. (Getty Images: SNS Group/Ross Parker)
Meanwhile, Darcy Graham’s four tries in his comeback rugby test spearheaded Scotland to a record 57-17 win over Fiji at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Graham’s four gave him 28 Test tries and tied the Scotland all-time record — for 10 minutes.
After Graham left the field in the 66th minute for a head injury check, fellow wing Duhan van der Merwe scored his 29th test try to regain sole ownership of the national record he has held since July.
Graham was making his first appearance for Scotland in 13 months, since the Rugby World Cup, where he scored his only previous four in a match against Romania. Injuries sidelined him for eight months until September.
“When you’re out that long, you start wondering when it’s going to happen again, if it’s going to happen again,” Graham told TNT Sports. “You have doubts in your head, but I’m just chuffed to be back.
“I joined [Van der Merwe on the tries record] for 5 minutes. It’s good fun, good competition between me and Duhi. We’ll take it all the way into the 30s I reckon.”
Graham scored twice in each half in a flip-flopping match in which Scotland stormed to 26-0 after 21 minutes.
When Fiji, reduced to 13 men at one point, returned to its full complement, it narrowed the gap to 29-17 after 50 minutes.
But Scotland dominated the rest of the way, the eight-try win eclipsing its previous biggest victory over Fiji, 54-17 in 2018, and upholding its unbeaten home record against the Fijians.
The only blow was losing fullback Kyle Rowe to a hamstring injury, putting him in doubt for the visit of world champion South Africa next weekend. New Zealander Tom Jordan replaced Rowe and excelled on debut.
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Scotland did not have to work hard in the first 20 minutes. While Fiji backs Frank Lomani then Apisalome Vata were in the sin-bin, Scotland scored four tries in 12 minutes. Graham had two of them, after a one-two with hooker Ewan Ashman, then from a crosskick by fly half Adam Hastings.
When Fiji was back to 15 men, and Ashman was in the sin-bin, it struck back with consecutive tries by fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, flanker Ratu Meli Derenalagi, and captain Tevita Ikanivere from a clever lineout move.
But after centre Huw Jones set up Graham for his third try in the 53rd, Fiji appeared to run out of steam.
The Pacific Nations Cup champion was a mainly Drua side, minus its European-based backline stars because the Test was outside the international window. It should be at full strength at Wales next weekend.
In the last moments, Jones had a try ruled out for a double movement but claimed his second of the game minutes later from another pinpoint crosskick by Hastings, who landed eight of nine goal kicks.
After the hooter, Van der Merwe appeared to also score his second of the game but Jones stepped in touch to void it.
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