Categories: Uncategorized

England’s Near Miss in New Zealand: Signs of Progress

England’s 21-year wait for an away win over New Zealand continues but their summer tour showed signs of progress. After a comfortable win over Japan, England narrowly lost both Tests against the All Blacks: 16-15 in Dunedin and 24-17 at Eden Park. Despite the losses, England were close to a historic win. Damian McKenzie’s penalties and Beauden Barrett’s late heroics turned the tide for New Zealand. Marcus Smith, despite struggling with his kicks in Dunedin, showed his playmaking skills, particularly with cross-field kicks that led to tries.

Smith reflected on the narrow defeats, citing small mistakes as crucial in deciding the outcomes. New Zealand’s experience, with players like Barrett and Fletcher Newell making key contributions off the bench, was decisive. England’s youthful squad, however, displayed resilience and improvement from their World Cup warm-up loss to Fiji. Smith expressed confidence in the team’s growth and potential, a sentiment echoed by coach Steve Borthwick, who praised the team’s progress and work ethic.

England’s attacking play showed development, though they sometimes reverted to conservative tactics. New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson noted England’s reluctance to run the ball during critical moments, which could have exposed New Zealand’s narrow defense. Despite the defeats, the experience gained by young players like Fin Baxter, Chandler Cunningham-South and George Martin is invaluable. Former England fly-half Paul Grayson emphasized the long-term benefits of this tour, viewing it as a launchpad for future success.

Borthwick and his team are optimistic, focusing on the learning and potential of their young squad, aiming to be competitive against any side in the world.

AddThis Website Tools
Cataleya

Recent Posts

Jessica Pegula Cruises Into Adelaide Quarters

Jessica Pegula made a strong return from injury by defeating Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1 in…

2 hours ago

Nick Kyrgios: Abdominal Strain ‘Not Too Serious’

Nick Kyrgios has reassured fans that his abdominal strain which forced him to withdraw from…

2 hours ago

Novak Djokovic Targets 25th Grand Slam with Murray by His Side

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of Australian Open glory is well-known but this time, there’s a notable…

2 hours ago

Jai Opetaia Defends IBF Title with KO Victory Over David Nyika

Jai Opetaia successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title with a dominant fourth-round knockout over David…

2 hours ago

Patrick Kluivert Appointed Indonesia’s Head Coach

Patrick Kluivert, the former Netherlands and Barcelona striker has taken on the role of Indonesia's…

3 hours ago

Trae Young’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Hawks Over Jazz 124-121

Trae Young delivered a dramatic buzzer-beater to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a thrilling 124-121…

3 hours ago