At Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: All Blacks 16 (Sevu Reece 16min, Ardie Savea 25min tries; Damian McKenzie 2 pen) England 15 (Maro Itoje 20min, Emmanuel Feyi-Waboso 48min tries; Marcus Smith con, pen). HT: 10-10
Scott Robertson would have been grateful for many wins during his coaching career, but few, if any, were as important as the All Blacks’ 16-15 victory over England in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Coach Robertson and captain Scott Barrett’s dream of building a new dynasty was almost rocked to the foundations as the All Blacks were forced to grind out an uninspiring triumph with a scrappy performance that left many in the 29,100-strong crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium wondering for long periods of Razor’s team was going to botch its big night on the most high-profile platform of the lot.
Like actors trying to launch a sparkling new production, the All Blacks at times stumbled with their lines, appearing anxious and frustrated with themselves.
When they went to the air they discovered the English were brave and committed under the pill back down towards them, and when the All Blacks kept the nut in their hands they struggled to penetrate the white line of defenders.
The All Blacks’ desire to play a fast game to run the visitors off their feet wasn’t helped by referee Nika Amashukeli not wanting to get scrums started at a rapid clip – it was disappointing to have to watch and wait as both sets of forwards were allowed too long to growl and snarl at each other before finally getting down to work – but the main issue was this: the All Blacks got a hell of a fright.
Did they get lucky? Well, you have to create your own fortune in sport.
The All Blacks also didn’t help themselves, with goal kicker Damian McKenzie blowing a chance to stretch their lead in the 79th minute after he was judged guilty of not taking a penalty kick within the allocated time.
That led to England winning a penalty, marching down the park to take a lineout but, then, as they attacked they conceded a breakdown penalty as the men in black flooded the pile-up.
That was the game won for the All Blacks.
No wonder Robertson looked so stressed moments before the fulltime bell. The time for celebratory back slaps would have come later. But the relief must have been immense for Robertson and Barrett.
When England captain Jamie George said he wanted his men to ensure the All Blacks remembered their names – a reference to a belief among the visitors they may not be getting the respect they deserved – he wasn’t spouting hot air to give the headline writers an easy shift.
England’s forward pack may have been lighter than their counterparts, but their hearts are big and they pack serious heat when it comes to hitting bodies in black uniforms.
Even with veteran prop Joe Marler forced to retire hurt inside the first quarter, he was replaced by debutant Fin Baxter, the Englishmen gave as good as they got, and then some.
During the captain’s run on the eve of the match the All Blacks glanced around the enclosed arena and promised they wouldn’t snub the excellent conditions; they weren’t interested in a strategy that required the heavy machinery to do multiple pick and carries up the guts of the paddock.
They didn’t disappoint with their intent, tasting success in the territory down the right edge to collect tries to wing Sevu Reece and Ardie Savea.
McKenzie poked an accurate cross-kick to the waiting Reece, the latter having to do his share of work to beat Tommy Freeman before chalking up the try. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu produced two powerful carries as the All Blacks knitted together 14 phases prior to getting Reece over the white dust.
Savea had an easy run for his 25th test try, thanks in no small part to fullback Stephen Perofeta who used neat footwork to flummox English No 8 Ben Earl prior to transfer to the grateful Savea.
England, using defenders to race quickly up on the All Blacks midfield to diminish their chances of putting their finishers in space, gave as good as they got with their defensive toil and were determined to try and put heavy shots on Jordie Barrett.
The visitors’ try to lock Maro Itoje was almost greeted with an air of disbelief by a crowd who were left scratching their heads as to how he could so easily get through the All Blacks tacklers. The All Blacks coaches, also, must have rushed to their laptops to analyse the breach in their line.
It really was regulation stuff.
Having won an attacking lineout the English inched forward, Itoje used his huge frame to shunt forward, and that was that. It was all too easy, and when Marcus Smith slotted a penalty right on halftime.
The siren that sounded to signal halftime was so loud, it could have blown the eardrums out of an unsuspecting soul’s skull.
But it was fitting. The All Blacks had problems. For all their graft, and willingness to fling the pill about, they kept letting themselves down with mistakes or conceding penalties at key moments.
Assistant coach Jason Holland said at halftime the All Blacks needed to nudge the ball in the right areas of the field, and they went to the bench early in the second spell in an attempt to lift the tempo.
The arrival of test centurion Beauden Barrett in the 52nd minute was greeted with enthusiasm by the crowd, he replaced fullback Stephen Perofeta, and that coincided with the All Blacks trying to push the ball down in the corners.
But, for all that, they punished themselves with errors, trying to be too ambitious in their own half. The scrum conceded an early penalty but it also gave the English a lesson or two.
Two penalties from McKenzie proved the difference. A win is a win. But it wasn’t pretty.
There’s lot to work on before the second test in England, in Auckland next weekend. But that won’t be news to the All Blacks. Or England.
