Savea: 'We got lucky'

REACTION: New Zealand wing Mark Tele’a scored the decisive try as the All Blacks came from behind to edge England 24-22 in a dramatic finish to their November international at Twickenham on Saturday.

England led 22-14 late on but replacement flyhalf Damian McKenzie’s penalty and Tele’a’s second try of the match helped leave New Zealand two points ahead with three minutes left.

England replacement flyhalf George Ford, who had hit the post with a 79th-minute penalty, then missed what would have been a winning drop-goal with the last kick of the match.

The veteran playmaker, winning his 97th England cap, had also gone too high in the tackle when Tele’a crossed for a second time, with McKenzie converting.

“I didn’t think we had that in the end,” New Zealand No.8 Ardie Savea said in his post-match reaction

“We got lucky with the penalty kick, but it is a game of fine margins and we will take it,” he added after a morale-boosting win for New Zealand – beaten by South Africa in the 2023 World Cup Final, following three defeats in six games during this year’s Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship.

“That game could’ve gone either way but for us to stay in it and defend the goalline like that, I’m very proud of the boys.

“England’s pack were bringing line speed and they were putting big shots on us.”

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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 flyhalf 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 All Black coach Scott 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 flyhalf 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 scrumhalf 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.