Why England Came So Close to the All Blacks

The question on everyone’s mind is why the All Blacks didn’t blow England away at Eden Park on Saturday night. But that question is on everyone’s mind, only because everyone is being unkind to England. The English have been good recently. Very good in fact. And Lancaster’s ability to pick form players and find good combinations has seen his side do extremely well, albeit not as consistently as he would like. 

As regards the game, both teams were weakened. England were without Twelvetrees and Farrell, although I do think that Twelvetrees return maybe stalled by an impressive showing by Eastmond in the inside centre position. In fact, it may not be unfair to say that Eastmond and Tuilagi actually outperformed Nonu and Smith, their opposite numbers in ball carrying. In terms of experience Smith’s contribution at the end glossed an otherwise ordinary showing by the midfield pair for the All Blacks. And that was the problem for them, the combinations were rusty.

The third row combination of McCaw, Kaino and Read, was indisputably the best in the world. Kaino’s Japanese adventure was overseen by the likes of Messam, who fitted in competently. However, Read’s absence was felt, not only in the ball carrying and around the field deployment of the World’s Best Player, but also in the confidence of Richie McCaw. You could see the captain going into a bit of a conservative shell, not carrying the ball and concentrating on tackling the dangerous Englishmen. Kaino is very much a no.6 and Read’s intelligence is something he does not possess, with due respect to the massive defender.

It was when Victor Vito came on and injected some pace into the third row, that things looked better for the AB’s. I thought Hansen missed a trick by starting both Messam and Kaino. Too similar. But probably to combat the physicality of England. That would be fine if you had a lightning quick 7, but Richie’s lightning quick days are over. If at all, if Read is ever injured then Richie should move to no.8 and Cane/Todd into the open side. Contrarily, for England, the captain was barnstorming. He ran well, he tackled well, and his no.8 Ben Morgan, despite being one of the fattest modern 8s I have seen, did some great work with ball in hand. The All Black first up defence off the set piece was not fantastic, and got exploited by Morgan, Eastmond and Tuilagi.

To add to that Aaron Smith had a poor game, and consequently so did Cruden. Both half backs were guilty of kicking away poor ball to England’s most dangerous, in-form player, Mike Brown. He is as intelligent as he is lethal and he pegged the AB’s back. With Israel Dagg being probably the worst AB on the park on the day, it was obvious that England will continue to kick deep. There was a case to be made for bringing Fekitoa on on the wing, and moving Jane or Smith to full back. Which should probably have happened at half time.

While England’s tight five did well in the set pieces, they are still miles behind their Souther Hemisphere counterparts. Retallick’s break showed that clearly. While England were very good carrying the ball in midfield and in the back row, the athleticism of the All Black front five was unmatched. They are as quick to pounce as a third rower, and the half back Young’s knock on led to Marland Yarde’s yellow card, which gave the All Blacks the last ten minutes with one man up. It’s those little opportunities that change games at this level and New Zealand are still better at taking them than anyone else.

The disappointment in Robshaw’s eyes was obvious. It was clear that the English believed in themselves more than their fans and certainly more than the rest of the world. It was also creditable to see the New Zealand players giving their opponents much needed credit, which their media was unable to do. Most of the post match comments patronised England for their plucky display, but that’s not the case. This is a team that has come out to win a Test series. They won’t. But they’ve come here to do that, and good luck to them.

For next week. the AB’s need to sort their shit out. It will happen. Dagg is a liability at the back and I would love to see Jane slipping into full back again. He had one run all game, and that’s not enough for a pretty electric player. I don’t agree with the calls for Cruden’s head. He is a quality player, and international football is not anything like Super XV. Hansen will and should stick with him, although Perenara may not be the right man to have on the bench against this England team. Someone nippier around the base might be better. Nonu had a shocker, and when people tell me he was good, I wonder if we’re watching the same game. His defensive positioning was completely off and as a result they were left vulnerable in the 10 – 12 and 12 – 13 channels. This vulnerability was gleefully accepted by Eastmond and Tuilagi, also due to the lack of pace in the third row as a defensive unit. I would be surprised if Hansen doesn’t make at least two changes.

For England, they need to continue to play with confidence. They have beaten the AB’s once at Twickenham and have the belief that they can do it again. Twelvetrees coming in, if he does, may see Eastmond shifted to outside centre and Tuilagi to the wing. That should make an interesting battering ram if they use him off the blind side. May has little offer, and the cleverness of Farrell, if he starts, can spark an English backline that is probably the most collectively dangerous it has been since I’ve watched England rugby.

Alistair Cook will take a few lessons from his compatriot on how to be brave, and yet dignified in defeat.