England 33-19 New Zealand: Hosts come from behind to claim stunning win

Quilter Nations Series

England (11) 33

Tries: Lawrence, Underhill, Dingwall, Roebuck Cons: Ford (2) Pens: Ford Drop goals: Ford (2)

New Zealand (12) 19

Tries: Fainga’anuku, Taylor, Jordan Cons: B Barrett, McKenzie

England roared back from the concession of 12 early points to beat New Zealand for only the ninth time in their 120-year rivalry and claim the greatest win of coach Steve Borthwick’s three-year reign.

After nine straight wins against lesser opposition, England passed the true test of their development with flying colours and four tries amid a delirious atmosphere at Allianz Stadium.

A crowd of 81,953 came expecting the usual nail-biting conclusion of fine margins between the two sides, but instead could revel in England’s dominance as wing Tom Roebuck pounced on a loose ball and slid in for an 78th-minute try that pushed the winning margin out to two converted scores.

After Leicester Fainga’anuku and Codie Taylor crossed inside the first 20 minutes for the visitors, England looked like they might pay for their own inaccuracy in attack.

But they clawed their way back on the scoreboard, before Sam Underhill and Fraser Dingwall’s second-half tries, forward dominance and an unusually docile New Zealand attack propelled them to 25-12 lead.

All Black speedster Will Jordan’s score 15 minutes from time and a Ben Earl yellow card prompted some late home nerves as their lead was cut to six points.

However, England’s high-quality bench knuckled down, earned territory and, after George Ford had slotted a penalty, Roebuck went over to choruses of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’.

More to follow.

England: Steward; Roebuck, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; Ford (vc), Mitchell; Baxter, George (vc), Heyes, Itoje, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge (vc), Stuart, Cunningham-South, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

New Zealand: Jordan; Carter, Proctor, Tupaea, Fainga’anuku; B Barrett, Roigard, De Groot, Taylor (vc), Newell, S Barrett (c), Lord, Parker, Savea (vc), Lakai

Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Tosi, Lord, Sititi, Ratima, Lienert-Brown, McKenzie