England's seven wins against New Zealand
TWICKENHAM SPOTLIGHT: England will go in search of just their eighth win over New Zealand in 41 Tests dating back 113 years when they face the world champions at Twickenham on Saturday.
Below AFP Sport recalls England’s seven victories against the mighty All Blacks:
1936, Twickenham: England 13 New Zealand 0
Alexander Obolensky, a Russian prince studying at Oxford University, enjoyed a stunning England debut by scoring two of the greatest tries that Twickenham has seen, the 20-year-old wing twice leaving a trail of defenders behind him with brilliant runs.
Obolensky was picked just three more times by England and by the age of 24 he was dead, following a training accident while practising landings with the Royal Air Force – the first of England’s many rugby internationals to be killed in the Second World War.
1973, Auckland: New Zealand 10 England 16
England was dire in what was then the Five Nations for much of the 1970s, yet they still managed to record a first win on New Zealand soil – and at the All Blacks’ spiritual home of Eden Park as well.
A powerful forward pack gave scrum-half Jan Webster a platform to produce a fine display of tactical kicking as England outscored the All Blacks’ three tries to two, via flanker Tony Neary, wing Peter Squires and prop Stack Stevens.
1983, Twickenham: England 15 New Zealand 9
An England team featuring several members of the 1980 Grand Slam side ultimately proved too strong for a less than vintage New Zealand team.
England scored a try through second row Maurice Colclough to one from New Zealand replacement Murray Davie, but it was the 11-point haul of home fullback Dusty Hare, who kicked three penalties and a conversion, that proved decisive.
1993, Twickenham: England 15 New Zealand 9
Jon Callard had a Test debut to remember, the fullback kicking four penalties, with England’s other points coming via Rob Andrew’s drop-goal.
New Zealand, up against an outstanding England pack, were restricted to three penalties from Jeff Wilson in a match that became infamous for Jamie Joseph’s stamp on the ankle of England scrumhalf Kyran Bracken.
2002, Twickenham: England 31 New Zealand 28
A full-strength England just did enough to see off a New Zealand side missing some 21 leading players.
For all they scored tries through Ben Cohen, Lewis Moody and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who completed a full set of scores by also kicking two conversions, three penalties and a drop-goal, England were indebted to powerhouse wing Cohen’s try-saving tackle on Ben Blair and an injury line-out steal by replacement lock Ben Kay for a narrow victory.
Wellington, 2003: New Zealand 13 England 15
A few months before they actually won the World Cup, England produced perhaps their best performance of the Clive Woodward era.
Despite being down to 13 men after back row forwards Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio were sin-binned early in the second half and with the All Blacks camped on their line, the visitors came through to record a remarkable win that saw Wilkinson kick all their points via four penalties and a drop-goal.
Twickenham, 2012: England 38 New Zealand 21
Eventually defying all stereotypes about their ‘boring’ rugby, England ran in three second-half tries after Owen Farrell kicked them into an unexpected 12-0 half-time lead.
It seemed normal service was about to be resumed when New Zealand then scored two quick tries through Julian Savea and Kieran Read.
But England powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi then burst into action, setting up a try for midfield partner Brad Barritt and grabbing an interception score either side of wing Chris Ashton crossing the All Blacks’ line.
Agence France-Presse
