England have defeated reigning two-time champions New Zealand 19-7 in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in Japan this morning.
The victory sees the English make it to their fourth final in their history and will play the winner of tomorrow’s last-four clash between Wales and South Africa after dominating the All Blacks from start to finish.
England got off to a blistering start bursting through the New Zealand half in the opening minute of the game, getting all the way to the opposition try-line before centre Manu Tuilagi picked from the back of a ruck and barrelled over for the opening try. Owen Farrell smashed over the easy kick to make it 7-0 to the English inside two minutes.
From there the men in white pushed on continuing their energetic start to the match, preventing the All Blacks from getting a foot-hold in the game.
New Zealand looked uncomfortable as the English forced them into handling errors that you wouldn’t normally see from them.
Midway through the half England thought they had scored their second try with Sam Underhill racing over but after a TMO review fellow back-row Tom Curry was adjudged to have prevented defenders from tackling Kyle Sinckler, who passed to Underhill. Meaning it remained at 7-0.
With 35 minutes on the clock England had over 60% possession as they made New Zealand live off scraps and when they did have the ball they were getting turned over time and time again. Those turnovers caused a penalty to be given away on the stroke of half-time which George Ford slotted over from long-range to give England a 10-0 lead come the whistle.
England started the second-half well and had a chance to push further ahead through the boot of Elliot Daly who tried a kick from inside his own half but it drifted narrowly wide.
Five minutes in and England had a second try disallowed as Ben Youngs pounced over from the back of a line-out maul, only for the TMO to spot that the ball was lost in the original maul and chalking off the try.
However, the English weren’t to be denied a score for a third time in the half as New Zealand gave away another penalty in front of their own posts which Ford kicked over to give them a 13-0 lead with just over half an hour remaining in the match.
Despite England’s dominance it was the All Blacks that scored next as Ardie Savea caught a Jamie George overthrow from an England line-out on their own five-metre line, leaving Savea with the simple task of walking in for the try. Richie Mo’unga knocked over the conversion to make it 13-6 with just over 20 minutes left.
England hit back immediately however, as Ford booted over another penalty.
New Zealand searched for another score over the remainder of the match but they could find no way through the resilient and utterly dominant English defence as they managed only seven-points in the entire game.
England will now go on to the final next Saturday against either Wales or South Africa, while for the All Blacks their chance of winning three Webb Ellis Cups on the bounce have been wiped aside and will face the loser of that game tomorrow in the third-place play-off on Friday.
Player Ratings
New Zealand Starting XV:
Beauden Barrett (4), Sevu Reece (6), Jack Goodhue (5), Anton Lienert-Brown (6), George Bridge (5), Richie Mo’unga (5), Aaron Smith (5), Kieran Read (6), Ardie Savea (6), Scott Barrett (5), Sam Whitelock (4), Brodie Retallick (5), Nepo Laulala (4), Codie Taylor (5), Joe Moody (5)
Replacements (6)
England Starting XV:
Elliot Daly (6), Anthony Watson (7), Manu Tuilagi (8), Owen Farrell (8), Jonny May (6), George Ford (8), Ben Youngs (7), Billy Vunipola (8), Sam Underhill (9), Tom Curry (9), Courtney Lawes (7), Maro Itoje (9), Kyle Sinckler (7), Jamie George (6), Mako Vunipola (7)
Replacements (8)
