Rugby Exclusive

The match played on Saturday started off living up to the hype of a classic black verses white jumper epic but as the poms huge forwards grew tired the mistakes and penalties started to come in to the game play for the English rose team.

New Zealand managed to compose themselves for the first 20 minutes of barrage form England and where eventually rewarded with a satisfactory win.

The All Blacks once again proved to be one of the best attacking teams in the world but an Intercept Try showed yet again how venerable a team can be when such an arsenal of attack is going forward.

This of course cost the All Black a birth in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final when Australia did the same thing to Carlos Spencer in the early part of the Semi Finals. Australia went on to play England and went on to take out the championship.

New Zealand plays England again next week and I think there will be little change in tactics. If their is a wet track then I suspect that England may score early with their big forwards but New Zealand will wear them down with their fitness and quick big forwards such as Brad Thorn.