New Zealand may only have edged out England 24-22 at Twickenham on Saturday but two-try star Mark Tele’a victory in their November international opener was “massive” for the All Blacks.
England led 22-14 late on but replacement fly-half Damian McKenzie’s penalty and wing Tele’a’s second try of the match helped leave New Zealand two points ahead with three minutes left.
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Eight points down, we’re still trying to play and that’s just our mindset that our coaches are driving off us and just to play some rugby, play that All Black rugby,” Tele’a told reporters.
“So eight points down and to come back with a win is massive. So yeah, happy for that.”
It was a point emphasised by New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson, who said: “We probably hit every emotion in the game, we showed a lot of character, with 15 minutes to go to come from eight points down was a special moment for us as a group.”
New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett impressed at fly-half, while up front flanker Wallace Sititi was a constant threat and produced an extravagant reverse pass to set-up Tele’a’s opening score.
“Credit to all our forwards to be honest,” said Tele’a. “They’re really skillful boys and I know they can offload, so just staying on around him (Sititi) is good.”
Victory gave the All Blacks their third narrow win over England this year following 16-15 and 24-17 successes in New Zealand in July.
But it came at a cost, with both Beauden Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor failing head injury assessments, leaving New Zealand with an anxious wait on their availability for a key game against Ireland in Dublin on Friday.
It might have been a different story, however, had not England replacement fly-half George Ford hit the post with a 79th-minute penalty before he was off-target with a last-ditch drop-goal, the final play of the game.
“I don’t think George Ford’s ever missed a drop-kick in his life,” said Robertson.
This reverse in their November opener was yet another frustrating near-miss for England, with Steve Borthwick’s men also going down by two points against France in this year’s Six Nations finale.
Saturday’s defeat was particularly tough on fly-half Marcus Smith, who kicked 17 points and made the interception that led to England’s lone try through winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
“We were in a position to win the game and whenever you put yourself in a position like that and don’t come away with the win, of course you’re going to be disappointed,” said England captain Jamie George.
“Unfortunately George didn’t make the kick, but I tell you what he hasn’t missed many in his career so we certainly can’t blame him for that.”
Ford’s misses came after England coach Borthwick had taken off Smith in the 62nd minute with England eight points ahead, with scrum-half Ben Spencer also replaced.
“I think when you have players of the calibre of those guys, the guys that came off the bench, look at the threat that Harry Randall is and the experience George Ford brings, for large parts ultimately we were in a position to win that game,” said Borthwick.
This was England’s fifth defeat in nine Tests this year, with Australia next up for Borthwick’s men a week on Saturday.
“New Zealand are a quality side who have played since we last played seven Test matches and been together for three months,” said Borthwick.
“Credit to them and we’ll be better next week.”
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