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Hello, I'm Jamie Allaway, and I will be keeping you up to date with all the action from the game between England and New Zealand at Twickenham today.
I must admit, as an Englishman, I am more than a little apprehensive about the game today. In losing to Australia and narrowly beating Argentina, England have displayed no direction or fluency and the general consensus is that they will have to improve greatly to avoid a heavy defeat.
While he is almost certain to be around for the 6 Nations, Johnno is certainly under pressure and needs a good performance from his team. England will have to go out to win it, though, and to achieve this they've beefed up, bringing in Shaw, Worsley and Erinle. The other change is positional with Monye staying on the wing and Cueto playing fullback.
New Zealand have gone for wholesale changes with 13 players starting, who did not line up against Italy. The most notable change is Carter, who comes back into fly-half looking for 2 more points to surpass Merhtens' record for New Zealand. At the other end of the scale Zac Guildford is one of those to retain his place and is tipped for great things. Not at their brilliant best during the Trinations, the All Blacks are improving and still have one of the most threatening attacking line-ups, which should prove too strong for their hosts today.
Fortunately, predictions have a way of making monkeys out of commentators, so join me at 2:30pm (GMT) to follow all the action.
2:25pm A good reception for England as the teams come out and just the anthems and Haka to go, then we'll be off.
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| 1 |
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High and long kick off from Jonny Wilkinson, a great chase from Banahan before Moody almost charges down Carter's clearance. Good to see England taking it to them at the outset.
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| 2 |
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The first English turnover, as Worsley fails to squeeze the ball behind his body in the tackle, but Cueto cleans up the hack through.
And Worsley has had to leave the pitch already, as he was hurt in that tackle. He limps off, and Croft's exile has only lasted 2 minutes.
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| 3 |
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England concede a free kick from the scrum, which is taken quickly, but a crunching tackle by Banahan slows up the attack. So far, England are looking committed and aggressive, virtually every tackle has put the man backwards.
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| 4 |
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Big up-and-under from Carter - and why wouldn't you after last week - but it's Cueto at fullback this time and the take is excellent. He wins the penalty when a couple of Kiwis dive in.
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| 6 |
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We have our first chance for points: Lewis Moody goes into the side at a ruck. Carter steps up to take it, and he pushes it wide! He'll have to wait a bit longer for that record.
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| 7 |
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Carter's mistake is compounded as he takes the ball from the 22 but is bundled into touch by Banahan for an England lineout.
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| 9 |
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England had to kick the ball away from the lineout as they didn't get it through hands quick enough. New Zealand run it back, but the tackling is good. A pair of turnovers result in more NZ ball, but England gain the scrum when they can't get it out of the ruck. The rain is falling heavily now, which may effect how this game pans out.
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| 11 |
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Bit of luck there, as Hodgson's box-kick from the base of the ruck drifts straight out into touch, but it clipped a NZ hand, and England have a lineout dead on the halfway line.
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| 12 |
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Monye crosses the line- but no try. He tackles Conrad Smith and the ball bounces loose. Monye reacts quickest, scoops it up and touches down, but his hand knocked it on as he knocked it out of Smith's hand.
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| 13 |
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Fantastic stuff as Cueto's up-and-under is chased well and reclaimed. In the ensuing play there are some powerful dirves from Shaw and Bell. England really are taking the game to the All Blacks, which bodes well for the spectacle.
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| 15 |
3 - 0 |
More good tempo from England and. importantly, in every contact they are making gains. They are rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts, and on the 22 as New Zealand bodies end up on the wrong side.
Wilkinson makes no mistake and slots it over.
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| 16 |
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Things are going for England, as they are rewarded a penalty for a push, as they attempt to gather the restart. A bit tame, that one.
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| 17 |
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Carter's not having an easy time, as the ball is knocked out of his hands in the tackle.
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| 18 |
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And that's the danger of New Zealand: from seemingly nothing, they work it wide and Muliaina crosses in the corner. The covering tackle from Monye is good, though, and drags his foot into touch before he can ground the ball, as the video ref confims.
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| 20 |
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Borthwick steals the New Zealand lineout and England have the opportunity to hoof theball clear upfield.
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| 21 |
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Neither side chows much penetration and both have to kick the ball away. But it is good controlled play from both sides as they jostle for position.
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| 22 |
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Payne is penalised for use of the arm in a ruck, which England had secured. That's a bit of a waste and gives Carter a shot at goal, albeit a difficult one, as it is close to halfway and near the 5-metre line on the right-hand side.
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| 23 |
3 - 3 |
Carter puts the ball through the middle of the posts - it was the much more difficult of the two he's had - and that's the record, as he passes Mehrtens' mark and becomes New Zealand's top scorer.
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| 24 |
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England's tackling forces the New Zealand knock-on, and Cowan gives away a cheap penalty, and England have the chance to regain their lead.
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| 25 |
6 - 3 |
Wilkinson does the honours. Regardless of the soft nature of that penalty, England look much improved: their tackling is hard and they are domianting the breakdown. New Zealand, on the other hand, are looking a touch out of sorts and they haven't settled into any pattern. They are making a few mistakes and have not been able to release their runners as they'd like.
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| 27 |
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It has been turning into a game of penalties over the last 10 minutes. Another innocuous ruck results in a penalty. To be honest I missed what that was for, but given the state of play, it was pretty unnecessary.
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| 29 |
6 - 6 |
Carter puts a simple one over to level the scores.
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| 30 |
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England show some incision as well, as they work the ball to the left and release Monye, whose pace takes him half clear. He does well to keep the ball in and feed Haskell to set up the ruck and launch another phase. The turnover is conceded on the 22, but that was good.
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| 31 |
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New Zealand react and show their ability to penetrate as well. Sivivatu counter running, offloading to Nonu, who tries to feed to Carter. That was done at high pace which led to a knock-on. If it hadn't, it would have most likely led to a try.
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| 33 |
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Haskell makes good ground, picking from the back of the scrum and is well supported by Moody. When the ball is released, Cueto beats his man with a step, but when he is tackled the counter-rucking from New Zealand is in numbers and very effective and they win the scrum.
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| 35 |
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We have a bit of argy-bargy between the front rows, there's been a bit simmering all game, and the penalty goes against Hartley. Carter drifts a simple kick to the left of the posts and lets England off. You'd expect him to put those away all day.
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| 37 |
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New Zealand work a couple of phases, but the England defence is well organised. A strong tackle from moody in particular means that despite going through 10+ phases, they are actually conceding ground.
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| 38 |
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In the end, all the All Blacks can do is put up a big up-and-under, which Cueto takes brilliantly. England have the scrum. They may be targeting the wrong man, as Cueto has been able to get under all the high kicks, Monye has not had to take one yet.
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| 40 |
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Again, the tacklers in white force New Zealand back through several phases until Nonu is forced to kick. Cueto cleans up and counters, but his chip drifts straight out. No harm done, though, as there is no time for the lineout and the players go in for half time.
Apologies if I seem to have focussed on the English performance, but it is generally English players who are having the important moments and the All Blacks are generally quite anonymous. Having said that, New Zealand still look like they are most able to make clean breaks at pace with the likes of Sivivatu and Muliaina.
It is competitive, it is in the balance and hopefully that will make for a compelling spectacle in the second half.
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| 41 |
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An athletic take from the kick-off, but England still manage to spill the ball out. A great tackle on Cowan, though, and Lewis Moody dives in on the ball and England have possession. Kicks are exchanged before Hodgson spots space and finds touch deep in the New Zealand 22.
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| 42 |
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Not the most secure ball from the All Blacks, but they do retain it, Cowan clears but they are not quite out of trouble yet.
They are now, as Hartley's throw is way off line.
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| 43 |
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Superb bit of skill from Muliaina, who takes the ball running back, drops it in field before running into touch, and is able to scoop it up and get it to Carter, who puts in a huge clearance.
England's lineout, again, sputtering a bit as they concede a scrum for closing the gaps.
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| 45 |
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Good defence by England as the All Blacks work the phases, until Shaw puts a hand in at the ruck to concede a penalty on the 22. New Zealand were patient there, content to win ground slowly and work the hard yards.
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| 46 |
6 - 9 |
Carter looked like he shanked it to me, but it slides back on line and he runs back with a wry smile on his face, having handed the lead to New Zealand.
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| 48 |
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Once again, Moody manages to make a glorious mess of things as Carter and Sivivatu get in a muddle and he is there to dive on the loose ball. They spin it wide with numbers and the advantage, but lose it as soon as the advantage is over, giving New Zealand the chance to counter. They too knock it on, and we have a breather and some substitutions after some seat-of-the-pants play.
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| 49 |
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From the scrum, Wilkinson's chip is chased well, but New Zealand retain it and run it from the 22, Nonu releasing Guildford. You can see why he is considered such a prospect as he runs it up to halfway without a hand laid on him. That is until Wilkinson gets in the cover tackle and forces the knock-on.
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| 50 |
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Shaw concedes a penalty, New Zealand have found their competitveness at the breakdown again, but Carter misses touch and the ball goes dead. Carter not having the best of days, which may explain some of New Zealand's lack of fluency.
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| 52 |
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England win a scrum against the head and New Zealand wheel the scrum in the attempt to regain the ball, conceding a penalty. That's the type of thing that can build a bit of momentum.
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| 53 |
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The All Blacks turn the ball over again, they are really looking much stronger in the tackle and the ruck and giving the English ball-carriers no time on the ground. From the base of the ruck, Cowan finds a good touch in English territory.
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| 56 |
6 - 14 |
TRY The All Blacks' dominance at the breakdown has given them the advantage and the territory, and they work the ball down the middle at the big men. At just the moment where England's defence is creaking, they work it to the short side and McCaw offloads beautifully to release Cowan, who crosses unopposed.
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| 58 |
6 - 16 |
Carter puts over a kick from the touchline and the gap is 10 points. For all of England's good work, New Zealand are doing the basics well, and when they get opportunities they are far more clinical and capable of converting them into points.
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| 59 |
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England pull out a fantastic training-ground move: a short throw to Shaw is popped back to Thompson, who charges forward and England are up to the New Zealand 5-metre line. The All Blacks concede the penalty for being off their feet, and England kick for the lineout, looking for the try.
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| 60 |
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From the lineout, they secure ball cleanly but cannot break the solid New Zealand defence. They have a scrum.
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| 61 |
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Haskell takes the ball up before it is recycled. Wilkinson tries a snap drop goal and misses. Odd decision, as England spurned the chance for a penalty earlier.
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| 63 |
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Extraordinary passage of play: as Monye gets man-and-ball, unable to release, he is driven back a full 30 metre and England are scrabbling. Desperately, Gerarty, on as a sub, tries a wild kick, which has virtually no forward motion. Banahan knocks on, on the wing, to bring an end to it. England are playing a little bit too wild and wooly at the moment, but New Zealand have got right into them: McCaw is spoiling all of their recycling and every All Black is hitting the tackles and the rucks hard.
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| 65 |
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New Zealand have stepped up the level now, sensing their chance. Muliaina ghosts through the English defence, stepping Geraghty with ease. Conrad Smith is just about bailed into touch but the momentum is all with New Zealand now.
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| 66 |
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New Zealand drive up and are easily making the gameline on every pick-and-go. They are under the posts when Thompson infringes and Carter takes the points to open up further daylight between the sides.
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| 67 |
6 - 19 |
Carter - penalty goal
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| 68 |
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England win a scrum by virtue of a great chase from the kick-off, which has been a mark of their play all day.
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| 69 |
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England again win the ball against the head of the scrum, however they don't know what to do with it and it is slung along the floor. Banahan knocks it on and possession returns to New Zealand.
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| 70 |
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We see a bit of Carter's true quality here as he puts a lovely kick over the English defence and it lands right in Guildford's arms. Only a quality tackle from Monye prevents him getting clear.
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| 71 |
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England are still competing, but looking a bit ragged and New Zealand are much fresher: this is the stage of the game at which they very often excel.
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| 72 |
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Somehow Croft smuggles a ball out of ruck and bursts free. We see a bit of his pace and he drives with the ball deep into the 22. Sivivatu tackles the supporting Bell and England have a scrum 5.
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| 73 |
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England can't take advantage, as Haskell and Care get mixed up at the back of the scrum and New Zealand now have the put-in.
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| 74 |
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Good ambition from England as Tait takes the quick throw-in form the clearance, they spin it wide and drive it up through Monye and Hipkiss. They win the penalty, but chasing the game have to run it. Geraghty threatens with a neat chip, but Monye can't quite gather. England have a lineout, though.
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| 76 |
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A lack of precision from England again. There is plenty of commitment and drive, they are attacking hard in the New Zealand 22, but a mix-up again leads to a turnover and Muliaina clears long downfield. If New Zealand had had that field position, and numbers, you would have backed them to score.
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| 78 |
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Ritchie McCaw is man of the match, and well deserved, especially for his second half.
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| 79 |
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England have a penalty and go for the lineout, but the ball is not clean and becomes very scrappy. You get the feeling that their desire to compete has finally gone as the last minute is underway.
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| 80 |
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The final whistle goes to confirm the New Zealand win, which they deserved. The margin was not as wide as it could have been, partly due to the All Blacks not playing at the highest level they can. They were better in the second half, led by McCaw and their hugely aggressive contest at the breakdown. Although it was 13 points, England got the performance they wanted. It was committed and competitive, although there is a lot of work to be done in order to convert good passages of play into points.
New Zealand are off to France next week to see if they can complete a clean-sweep this tour. They have been tested well today, but will hope to step up against a more threatening French side. Please join me next week for that game, bye for now.
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