The New Zealand All Blacks pulled off a dramatic 24-22 comeback victory against England at Twickenham, thanks to a late try by Mark Tele’a and a crucial conversion by Damian McKenzie.
England’s George Ford had two chances to score in the closing moments, but a missed penalty and a failed drop goal attempt sealed the All Blacks’ win.
After a close first half, where New Zealand led 14-12, the All Blacks had to recover from an eight-point deficit and withstand multiple penalties. Tele’a scored two tries, with his second coming after he outran three defenders to reach the corner. McKenzie’s precise conversion, taken under enormous pressure from near the sideline, put New Zealand ahead with just minutes left.
The All Blacks’ coach, Scott Robertson, praised McKenzie’s composure, which has been questioned in recent games. Robertson was thrilled with the contributions from both his starters and his bench, especially the strong performance from flanker Wallace Sititi, who set up Tele’a’s first try. Replacement hooker Asafo Aumua also played a key role after Codie Taylor left the game early due to a head injury.
Though England started strong, the All Blacks gained momentum, thanks in part to key contributions from reserve players. England’s attempts to build pressure in the final moments didn’t pay off, with Ford’s missed shots proving costly.
New Zealand’s win brings them momentum heading into upcoming tests against Ireland and France. However, concerns linger, especially around injuries to key players like Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor.
