England have finally ended their long wait for a victory over New Zealand, producing a spectacular second-half performance to defeat the All Blacks 33-19 at a euphoric Twickenham. The historic win, masterminded by fly-half George Ford, marks England's first triumph against their rivals since the 2019 World Cup semi-final and their first at Twickenham since 2012.
Ford's Leadership Steers England's Comeback
The match did not begin as England had hoped. New Zealand delivered a clinical lesson in finishing during the first quarter, with Leicester Fainga’anuku and Codie Taylor crossing for tries within three minutes to establish an early 12-0 lead. England's wide defence was exposed, and a malfunctioning line-out added to their early frustrations.
Despite the deficit, England started brightly. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was lively, and the home side's ambition was finally rewarded in the 25th minute when Ollie Lawrence powered over from a scrum, breaking two tackles to score. The momentum then began to shift decisively before half-time, as George Ford slotted two quick drop-goals to narrow the interval deficit to a single point at 12-11.
Second-Half Dominance Seals Famous Victory
The turning point arrived early in the second half. With New Zealand's Codie Taylor in the sin-bin for handling on the floor, England seized their opportunity. Sam Underhill crashed over in the 44th minute to give England the lead for the first time, a lead they would not relinquish.
England's pack began to dominate, shoving the All Blacks scrum backwards, and the tide truly turned when Fraser Dingwall scored a crucial 55th-minute try after a clever line-out move involving Ollie Lawrence. Even when Ben Earl was sent to the sin-bin and New Zealand's Jordan hit back with a try, England showed immense composure. A late Ford penalty and a try from Tom Roebuck sealed the famous 33-19 victory, sparking celebrations across the stadium.
A Victory Six Years in the Making
The parallels to England's 2019 World Cup win over the All Blacks were unmistakable, not least when the team faced the haka in a defiant U-shaped formation. This victory, however, was built on the foundation of a 10th consecutive win for Steve Borthwick's squad. While Ford was the undeniable architect, it was a triumph featuring standout performances across the park, from Alex Mitchell's control at scrum-half to the powerful carries of Ben Earl.
This result not only ends a long-running hoodoo but also sends a powerful message about the current trajectory of the England team under Borthwick's leadership.
