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.