TWICKENHAM CONQUERED BY ALL BLACKS, BUT ENGLAND CAN RETAIN PRIDE

 

(Image from Sky Sports)

 

Well, the New Zealand form coming into this match spoke for itself, the Millenium Stadium and Lansdowne Road had been left in ruins. Target: The Grand Slam of the British nations. They had to take Twickenham first.

The All Blacks opened with the Haka as per usual(though Jonah Lomu scared me more back in the 90s than the Haka has ever done). The battering ram, used to such great effect against the Aussies was less likely to work against the All Blacks who had more than their fair share of large guys of their own.

England's response? Put the battering ram into overdrive, catch the visitors off guard, kick the resulting penalty into touch and pick up seven points through a Martin Corry try converted by Charlie Hodgson. Bring it on All Blacks! Slight problem, after some early fumbling, they brought it on. Tana Umaga opened the scoring for them and the conversion by hotshot flyhalf Daniel Carter levelled the match. Hodgeson gave England the lead back with a penalty but Carter replied and it was England who soon had their backs against the wall, only the video ref denied the Kiwis a second try and Carter still took his side into the dressing room at half time with a 16-13 lead thanks to a late penalty.

Despite a total of three All Blacks getting sinbinned for one reason or another, England never really came back from that, the All Black's defence never looked like buckling a second time. What did happen was a second try for the Kiwis, scored by Kevin Mealamu, converted by Carter. Hodgson was able to win the penalty kicking contest with the All Black 'perfect 10' by three scores to one but despite a late surge, the All Blacks held out and showed why they're world number 1 at the moment. Can't see Scotland doing much better next weekend. England are 1-1 in their three game series with Samoa to come.

The Samoans were at Murrayfield this weekend, the wounded Scots looking for a win that was no garuntee, particularly when Samoa's Alesana Tuilagi opened the scoring with an early try, though Ali Hogg replying in kind for Scotland later on. Samoan kicker Roger Warren opened his account with a penalty, Chris Patterson did likewise and the first half ended evens. It was a Patterson penalty which eventually broke the deadlock in the second half and it looked enough till Warren levelled the match late on. However, the Scots still had time to win the game, thanks to a try from Marcus di Rollo, converted by Paterson. Good to see Scotland win.

Elsewhere, South Africa took one look at the rumble of the Millenium Stadium and smoothly ran it over. Percy Montgomery opened the scoring against Wales and a try from Bryan Trabana meant that Stephen Jones beating Montgomery 2-1 in a penalty contest only resulted in South Africa leading 11-6 at half time. The Boks then ran riot in the second half, tries from Habana, Conrad Janties(converted by Meyer Bosman with Montgomery sinbinned) effectivly finishing the match, despite the Springbok kicker's later sending off after a further penalty. Replacement Ceri Sweeney restored some Welsh pride with a late try converted by Jones but Brent Russel had the last word for South Africa, converting Danie Roussow's try.

Ireland didn't fare much better against the starving Aussies, despite Ireland coming in at half time 6-3 up thanks to Ronan O'Gara winning a kicking contest with Mat Rogers. The Australian kicker went on to level the match with an early second half penalty before converting a Drew Mitchell try. David Humphreys had taken over the kicking for Ireland ad a penalty pulled things back to 13-9 but both Mitchel and Chris Latham added further tries, both converted by Rogers and Shane Horgan's late try for Ireland didn't count for anything, Rogers securing the Aussie win with a last minute pen.

Rough weekend for most British rugby fans.

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