England's magnificent seven v ABs
England's record-breaking 38-21 victory over world champions New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday was only their seventh win in 35 Tests against the All Blacks dating back to 1905.
It was also their largest margin of victory over New Zealand, topping a 13-0 success in 1936 but the overall record is still hugely in the All Blacks' favour with 27 wins to England's seven and one draw.
Three members of the same family contributed to those England wins, with scrumhalf Nick Youngs featuring in 1983 before his sons Ben (also a scrumhalf) and hooker Tom starred on Saturday.
Below AFP Sport looks back at England's seven wins over New Zealand.
1936, Twickenham: England 13 New Zealand 0
What became known as 'Obolensky's Match' saw England beat the All Blacks for the first time. Alexander Obolensky, a Russian emigrent prince, scored two tries, with the second, which saw him make a swerving cross-field run, becoming one of Twickenham's most celebrated scores.
1973, Auckland: New Zealand 10 England 16
So stunning was this result, The Times newspaper proclaimed "England's victory over New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday must be written down as one of the greatest – and most unexpected – achievements in rugby history". Tries from Tony Neary, Peter Squires and Stack Stevens stunned a packed Eden Park.
1983, Twickenham: England 15 New Zealand 9
A far from vintage England team featuring future World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward in the centres beat an All Blacks side with Australia boss Robbie Deans at fullback thanks to a converted Maurice Colclough try and three penalties by Dusty Hare.
1993, Twickenham: England 15 New Zealand 9
A decade on from their last win over the All Blacks, England won by the same scoreline as fullback Jon Callard kicked four penalties on his Test debut and Rob Andrew landed a drop-goal. New Zealand's Jeff Wilson kicked three penalties in a match where neither side scored a try.
2002: Twickenham: England 31 New Zealand 28
Jonah Lomu scored two tries but an England team featuring 13 of the players who just over a year later would win the World Cup with Jonny Wilkinson going through the complete set of scores in grabbing one of three tries by his team as well as kicking two conversions, three penalties and a drop-goal.
2003: Wellington: New Zealand 13 England 15
England's first win in New Zealand for 30 years cemented their status as World Cup favourites and was a triumph for sheer resilience given that, at one stage, they were down to 13 men with back-row forwards Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back both in the sin-bin. Four Wilkinson penalties and a drop-goal saw them to victory as Martin Johnson became the only England captain thus far to lead his side to two wins over the All Blacks.
2012: Twickenham: England 38 New Zealand 21
England ended a run of nine straight defeats by the All Blacks in remarkable fashion. Having kept New Zealand scoreless in the first half, they were 15-0 up early in the second half through the boot of fly-half Owen Farrell, who kicked 17 points in all. The All Blacks hit back with tries by Julian Savea and Kieran Read only for England backs Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi to cross New Zealand's line in an amazing eight-minute spell.
AFP
