International — New Zealand wins in England after suspense

This Saturday, November 2 in the afternoon, there was tension in the air in London for the first match of the Autumn Nations Series 2024. On the legendary lawn of the Allianz Stadium, the new commercial name given to the Temple of Rugby that is the Twickenham stadium, the English actually opened their autumn tour with an XXL clash against the New Zealanders. Coming out of a (very) mixed Rugby Championship, the All Blacks did not advance into conquered territory. However, the English arena is almost their home with 18 Oceanian successes for 5 English victories and 2 draws in its history. The tension and the challenge were present, Mr. Augus Gardner just had to release the wild animals.

From the start of the game, there was no lack of intensity and it was Maro Itoje who lit the first fuse, breaking through the axis (4th). In the process, the XV de la Rose recovered a penalty on a tackle without the ball by Jordie Barrett (4th). Marcus Smith, the English chief gunner, was quick to open the scoring with an easy penalty (3-0, 5th). Only, after a well-taken penalty on a throw from Asafo Aumua who came to replace Codie Taylor, injured in the first minutes, New Zealand went for the test. The play went wide on the right to Wallace Sititi. Seeming to be caught, he was ultimately not as he produced a superb overrun before finding Mark Tele'a with a remarkable chistera. The latter then took on Ellis Genge to try in the corner (3-7, 10th).

Will Jordan scores his 36th try for New Zealand… in 38 matches

A few minutes later, Marcus Smith was blocked on a drop attempt made on an advantage following a tackle without the ball from Asafo Aumua (12th). The English striker took advantage of this to allow his team to pick up the score (6-7, 13th). There followed almost a quarter of an hour without any points scored due to technical errors, such as a forward from Rieko Ioane (17th), an English penalty not found (18th), New Zealand supporters making a mistake too easily in a favorable situation (20th) or a penalty conceded stupidly (24th). It was ultimately the All Blacks who brought the fire back into this game by scoring a second try by Will Jordan (6-14, 29th).

Author of his 36th try in 38 tests, the latter went behind the English goal line following a sublime cross pass from Beauden Barrett. Before the break, however, New Zealand paid for its indiscipline and Marcus Smith did not fail to reduce the gap to two lengths (9-14, 32nd; 12-14, 36th). England could even have gone ahead on the return to the locker room if Smith had not unscrewed a drop attempted after the bell.

A great start to the second period for the XV de la Rose

When play resumed, the English showed themselves enterprising and realistic. Initially, and in the general madness of Twickenham, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, after an action initiated by an interception by Marcus Smith, broke the New Zealand barrier by going for a try (19-14, 46th). From then on, the All Blacks showed themselves feverish, failing to materialize their incursions into the English 22 meters and committing too many mistakes, like that of Caleb Clarke leading to the widening of the gap (22-14, 60th). All while this same Clarke, found by Beauden Barrett, had gone into action. However, he had made a voluntary leap at the start of it. In short, nothing was going right for the New Zealanders, close to losing for the first time at Twickenham since 2012.

However, the All Blacks never die. Challenged on their haka and trailing by more than one converted try on the hour mark, Scott Robertson's men never admitted defeat. Tenacious despite the errors (forward by Cam Roigard, 65th), they were rewarded for their efforts following a penalty obtained for a tackle without the arms of Ben Earl (66th). Damian McKenzie, who had just come on, passed the penalty and everything changed: the Blacks were only five points behind the XV de la Rose (22-17, 67th). This promised ten last minutes of high tension!

Mark Tele'a and Damian McKenzie unleash the Blacks

However, New Zealand continued to make stupid mistakes, like this forward from Rika Ioane (69th) or getting lost (71st). But the Blacks were gradually gaining the upper hand in the melee while the English had dominated this sector until then. It was finally behind a penalty played manually, and therefore after the work of the big players, that the Oceanians broke free. The game started on the right where Mark Tele'a, returning to the game after leaving the pitch for a few minutes, achieved a personal feat at the end of the line to go for the try. George Ford could do nothing and this allowed, with the sublime transformation of Damian McKenzie into a corner, the New Zealanders to get back in front (22-24, 77th).

Despite a yellow card received by Anton Lienert-Borwn (78th) at the very end of the game, the Blacks resisted and the English, after a penalty (79th) and a drop (81st) missed by the very unfortunate George Ford, had to concede defeat 22-24 after an unbearable suspense. For the twelfth time in fourteen games since 2008, the Hillary Shield was won by New Zealand. A team that may have already had a successful European tour as they face Ireland in Dublin next Friday and then France and Italy the following weekends. England will try to recover from this third very small defeat in a row conceded against the Blacks against Australia next Saturday. In the same place.