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Eight would be just great: England’s seven wins against New Zealand
LONDON, Nov 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – England will go in search of just their
eighth win over New Zealand in 41 Tests dating back 113 years when they face
the world champions at Twickenham on Saturday.
Below AFP Sport recalls England’s seven victories against the mighty All
Blacks:
1936, Twickenham: England 13 New Zealand 0
Alexander Obolensky, a Russian prince studying at Oxford University,
enjoyed a stunning England debut by scoring two of the greatest tries that
Twickenham has seen, the 20-year-old wing twice leaving a trail of defenders
behind him with brilliant runs.
Obolensky was picked just three more times by England and by the age of 24
he was dead, following a training accident while practising landings with the
Royal Air Force — the first of England’s many rugby internationals to be
killed in the Second World War.
1973, Auckland: New Zealand 10 England 16
England were dire in what was then the Five Nations for much of the 1970s,
yet they still managed to record a first win on New Zealand soil — and at
the All Blacks’ spiritual home of Eden Park as well.
A powerful forward pack gave scrum-half Jan Webster a platform to produce a
fine display of tactical kicking as England outscored the All Blacks’ three
tries to two, via flanker Tony Neary, wing Peter Squires and prop Stack
Stevens.
1983, Twickenham: England 15 New Zealand 9
An England team featuring several members of the 1980 Grand Slam side
ultimately proved too strong for a less than vintage New Zealand team.
England scored a try through second row Maurice Colclough to one from New
Zealand replacement Murray Davie, but it was the 11-point haul of home
fullback Dusty Hare, who kicked three penalties and a conversion, that proved
decisive.
1993, Twickenham: England 15 New Zealand 9
Jon Callard had a Test debut to remember, the fullback kicking four
penalties, with England’s other points coming via Rob Andrew’s drop-goal.
New Zealand, up against an outstanding England pack, were restricted to
three penalties from Jeff Wilson in a match that became infamous for Jamie
Joseph’s stamp on the ankle of England scrum-half Kyran Bracken.
2002, Twickenham: England 31 New Zealand 28
A full-strength England just did enough to see off a New Zealand side
missing some 21 leading players.
For all they scored tries through Ben Cohen, Lewis Moody and fly-half Jonny
Wilkinson, who completed a full set of scores by also kicking two
conversions, three penalties and a drop-goal, England were indebted to
powerhouse wing Cohen’s try-saving tackle on Ben Blair and an injury line-out
steal by replacement lock Ben Kay for a narrow victory.
Wellington, 2003: New Zealand 13 England 15
A few months before they actually won the World Cup, England produced
perhaps their best performance of the Clive Woodward era.
Despite being down to 13 men after back-rows Neil Back and Lawrence
Dallaglio were sin-binned early in the second half and with the All Blacks
camped on their line, the visitors came through to record a remarkable win
that saw Wilkinson kick all their points via four penalties and a drop-goal.
Twickenham, 2012: England 38 New Zealand 21
Eventually defying all stereotypes about their ‘boring’ rugby, England ran
in three second-half tries after Owen Farrell kicked them into an unexpected
12-0 half-time lead.
It seemed normal service was about to be resumed when New Zealand then
scored two quick tries through Julian Savea and Kieran Read.
But England powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi then burst into action, setting
up a try for midfield partner Brad Barritt and grabbing an interception score
either side of wing Chris Ashton crossing the All Blacks’ line.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0855 hrs