Sport | Rugby Union England are up against New Zealand again on Saturday in their Second Test against the All Blacks . Seven days on from their agonising loss in Dunedin , Steve Borthwick’s side will have to pick themselves up and go again in a bid to finish their summer tour on a high. Though the impressive tourists certainly played their part in a tense First Test at Forsyth Barr Stadium, they ended up going down by a solitary point, 16-15, despite being level at half-time and twice leading on the night - including with just over 15 minutes to play.
Damian McKenzie saved an otherwise errant night from the tee with a couple of crucial late penalties to see the All Blacks squeeze home in Scott Robertson’s first game in charge and their first match since losing the Rugby World Cup final to South Africa in similarly close fashion in Paris in October. Marcus Smith also had a kicking performance to forget, missing two straightforward penalties and a tough conversion in a tightly-contested, ultra-physical showdown. Maro Itoje and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso had a try in each half for England, while Sevu Reece and Ardie Savea both notched in the first period for a New Zealand team in transition as they head into a fresh era.
It was unquestionably a spirited showing and a valiant effort from Borthwick’s men, but it was difficult to shake the feeling that they had missed perhaps the best chance they will ever get to topple an All Blacks team in their own backyard - something they have.
