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All Blacks escape Twickenham with win


The All Blacks needed a last-quarter comeback to escape Twickenham with a two-point victory over England.


In their opening match in Europe, Scott Robertson's side had to survive missed penalty and drop-goal attempts from George Ford in the closing minutes to hold on for a 24-22 win at Allianz Stadium in London on Saturday (Sunday NZ Time).


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Wing Mark Tele'a, who had just returned to the field as Beauden Barrett underwent a head knock assessment, forced his way over in the right corner for his second try in the 76th minute, with Damian McKenzie's sideline conversion putting the ABs ahead.


England controlled the ensuing kick-off and went on attack. Recent replacement Anton Lienert-Brown was sin-binned in the 78th minute, first for a tackle off the ball, then for a head-to-head clash in an earlier tackle.


Ford's potential match-winning penalty doinked the right post, with Patrick Tuipulotu controlling the rebound but knocking on in the tackle.


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England attacked several phases inside the 22, hoping to draw a penalty at the breakdown, before Ford dropped back into the pocket, but good pressure from the All Blacks forced a wobbly kick to sail wide right.


The All Blacks finished the match the stronger of the two sides, drawing two late scrum penalties as they pushed England back.


A win appeared unlikely when Marcus Smith booted his fifth penalty of the match to put the hosts up 22-14 in the 60th minute, after wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso gave them the lead just after halftime.



A McKenzie penalty seven minutes later closed the gap to one-score, before the All Blacks attacked under advantage, with Tele'a getting the ball on the flank, with little space to work with. He beat his man, spun and reached out to score in the grasp of another defender.


Tele'a and fullback Will Jordan scored tries, with Barrett converting both, but Smith kept England close with four penalties as the All Blacks went to the break up 14-12.


The Men in Black head to Dublin next to take on world No 1 Ireland for the first time since their epic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal victory 13 months ago, at Aviva Stadium on Friday (kick-off 9.10am Saturday NZT).


All Blacks 24 (Mark Tele'a 2, Will Jordan tries; Beauden Barrett 2 con, Damian McKenzie con, pen) England 22 (I Feyi-Waboso try; Marcus Smith con, 5 pen). HT: 14-12





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