New Zealand 16-15 England: Steve Borthwick's side suffer narrow defeat at the hands of All Blacks as late Damian McKenzie penalty secures victory for the hosts By Chris Foy Published: 10:07, 6 July 2024 | Updated: 10:11, 6 July 2024 e-mail View comments England came on a mission to make history but ended up becoming trapped in the same old story of defeat and despair against the All Blacks in New Zealand. It was so near but so far – again. A decade after losing by a point at Forsyth Barr Stadium, there was the same agonising outcome at the same venue.
Steve Borthwick 's national team were confident they could create a shock and that was on the cards when they led 15-10 early in the second half. But even under-prepared All Blacks are still All Blacks and their innate spirit and talent allowed them to turn the tables, to mark Scott Robertson's first game in charge with a narrow, nervy win. The English target was just a third victory against the host nation on these shores but Borthwick's side could not claim the Kiwis' scalp here in 2024, as their predecessors had done in 1973 and 2003.
Those remain the twin peaks for England in rugby's final frontier and it is now hard to imagine another such feat occurring in a week's time. Their place in folklore was denied – entry blocked. The club for England players who have beaten these rivals in their forbidding domain will stay extremely exclusive Another objective for Jamie George and Co had been to successfully launch an epic wee.