Key events
32 min: The line-out is initially disrupted by New Zealand but Slade picks up, a few phases later the referee pulls it back for a knock on so there’s another scrum to come. It’s a good set piece from both sides but as England attack Papali’i knocks on in the tackle – scrum time again.
30 min: England’s line-out is good once more but they attack is stunted again with a rogue pass to Lawrence bouncing off of his chest. New Zealand clear to halfway and the hosts are really at the heart of an England storm here as they win a penalty at the line-out, Smith kicks to the corner.
28 min: New Zealand are so physical at the breakdown that Smith is forced into a kick, J Barrett collects but slips at the same time. It’s close but the hosts hang on to it and Christie kicks clear.
27 min: The New Zealand put in at the scrum is clean and they clear, not with a lot of length on it and England will have a line-out on the 22. It’s good and Steve Borthwick’s side have another attack.
26 min: The scrum is reset but England eventually come away with it, they look to pounce but Lawrence knocks on so another scrum to come.
24 min: The restart sees the ball trickling into touch and New Zealand have a line-out close to their own line. There’s a knock on after Itoje is a menace again and England have the scrum.
PENATLY! New Zealand 10-7 England (McKenzie, 22′)
McKenzie lines the kick up and nudges the hosts ahead.
21 min: New Zealand have a scrum five metres out and they get the penalty advantage, Mitchell disrupts the hosts and they are pushed backwards and McKenzie puts in a cross field kick of his own. It bounces just shy of Reece, that would have been a sure try. It comes back to the penalty and England captain Jamie George has been warned about the count, New Zealand opt for the sticks.
20 min: This time the All Black line-out gets to hands, they clear but Steward is under the high ball and the visitors are on the attack once more. Smith kicks this time and McKenzie picks it up, he does phenomenally to weave into attack, it comes to Tele’a who looks for Perofeta on the outside but it is England’s Smith who intercepts. Tele’a shouldn’t have given that pass, I think he could have scored by himself.
18 min: England’s attack ends with a kick which New Zealand pick up, they go through multiple phases but they don’t make much ground so Christie opts to the sky. Steward collects, it comes to Smith and he pops a kick just shy of the 22.
17 min: My word what a start to this encounter. Both sides are absolutely hungry here. Martin hits it out of play and New Zealand have a line-out which is stolen by England, the set piece not quite functioning for the All Blacks yet.
CONVERTED TRY! New Zealand 7-7 England (Feyi-Waboso, 14′)
Now that is a response.
England’s line-out was slick, they run it through the phases but Smith spots space on the wing. He pops a lovely cross field kick in and Feyi-Waboso weaves to the line. Smith converts.
13 min: So how will England respond? From the restart New Zealand take the ball well and McKenzie clears.
CONVERTED TRY! New Zealand 7-0 England (Tele’a, 11)
They whip it to the left wing and Tele’a is over.
In the attack Savea made huge metres with multiple defenders hanging off of him, what a world class player he is. The TMO did check if Tele’a’s feet were in touch or not but everything is all okay. McKenzie slots the conversion
11 min: Itoje is a menace at the line-out but England are pinged for an infringement and so New Zealand tap and go, the closest attack we have seen so far in this game.
10 min: England disrupt the New Zealand line-out and the hosts knock on and so we have yet another scrum. The set piece this time seeing New Zealand winning the penalty and J Barrett kicks to the corner instead of opting for the sticks.
8 min: The scrum this time is better from England, who come away with it quickly. The kicking game then comes into play and it ends with a great boot from Smith finding touch just under halfway.
7 min: England’s attack only goes a few phases before they pass to Smith for a drop goal attempt, it is touched in the air and does not go through the posts. The hosts clear and they quickly race away. McKenzie pops a kick up and collects it himself, he passes to Perofeta and Taylor runs clear. He can’t quite get it to Tele’a and it’s spilled, a scrum to come and a moment to breathe.
5 min: New Zealand’s line-out functions well but they are massively under pressure in the defensive line, seeing J Barrett’s pass going slightly beyond Tele’a for a knock on – so we have a scrum. The All Blacks are crunching but England manage to hold onto it.
3 min: A frantic few minutes with end-to-end rugby which ends with a breakdown penalty awarded to New Zealand, J Barrett whacks it up field. If this is what we are in store for today we are in for on of the all-time great Tests.
2 min: Itoje almost nabs the kick-off with England taking the kick but it is S Barrett who takes it, the hosts work it left and send it up in the air to give England their first attack. They go through the phases but New Zealand are hugely impressive at the breakdown who turn over.
Kick-off! New Zealand 0-0 England
Here we go then. Can England destroy New Zealand’s Eden Park record? Or will the All Blacks continue to make it a fortress? All to come.
The teams cross over one another as the All Blacks get in position for the Haka. England stand arm-in-arm in a line to face it with New Zealand’s Codie Taylor leading. It is as intimidating and beautiful as ever.
It is a packed Eden Park and the England fans are most definitely outnumbered but they male themselves heard during the anthem. But the real noise comes with the New Zealand anthem, spine-tingling.
The players have emerged at Eden Park after a light show at the iconic ground. We will have the anthems and the Haka before we get underway in this second Test.
An important read here:
England boss Steve Borthwick told Sky Sports on George Furbank being replaced by Freddie Steward because of injury: “Fred is a young man but he is an experienced international rugby team. It is a young side but and exciting England side, we unfortunately lost Geroge Furbank but we have a player like Freddie coming in.”
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson was asked about the 30-year Eden Park record by Sky Sports: “We have covered it briefly. You don’t talk about it, you do it with action.”
And he added on the scrum discussions this week: “It is good when you talk about scrums and you aren’t a front rower, the game is going great.”
I’d love to hear from you and find out where you are watching the game/getting your updates today. Are you on a beach on holiday? Cozy on your sofa? Get in touch and let me know via email or X (@rendellx).
Here’s a good read to preview the second Test from Rob Kitson who is in Auckland:
New All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has said of his new role: “I don’t think I’ll ever feel comfortable in the role and I think that’s a good place to be.
“I’ve got to play well. I’ve got to lead by example up front. That’s where my focus is and that will be my continued focus going forward.”
England head coach Steve Borthwick said: “If there’s one area I’d want to improve upon, there was a feeling midway through the second half that we weren’t as aggressive with the ball as we wanted to be. We’ve got such talent, pace and skill within this team. I want the players to go on to the grass on Saturday and play big.”
Read more:
The injury to George Furbank means Freddie Steward starts for England for the first time since the team played Wales in this year’s Six Nations. Since then Northampton Saints’ Furbank has been the preferred option.
The team news is here. New Zealand have made one change to their starting XV with Finlay Christie coming in at scrum-half for the injured TJ Perenara.
New Zealand: Stephen Perofeta; Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele’a; Damian McKenzie, Finlay Christie; Ethan De Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett
England, meanwhile, has made two changes. When Steve Borthwick announced the team there was only change with Fin Baxter coming in for the injured Joe Marler.
However, during the week another change has been made as George Furbank is injured. Freddie Steward now starts.
England: Freddie Steward; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Fin Baxter, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholme
Preamble
Hello and welcome to what is going to be a tasty second Test between New Zealand and England. The All Blacks secured a one-point victory in Dunedin last weekend but the performance will fill England with confidence that they can have a slice of history.
An England men’s team have not won a match against the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2003. Can they do so today? They are capable but they will have to topple the All Blacks at Eden Park, something no team has done for 30 years.
Both teams have been hampered by injuries and so on that basis they are on a level-playing field. We will have a look at the full team news shortly but it is interesting that Scott Robertson has opted for Stephen Perofeta again over Beauden Barrett.
The new head coach is certainly putting his print on the team after taking over from Ian Foster following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Let’s take a look at that team news now before kick-off at 8.05am BST.