Recap: England vs New Zealand LIVE | Rugby World Cup
Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the World Cup semi-final match between England versus New Zealand in Yokohama.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
England’s clash with New Zealand is their biggest game at the finals since reaching the decider in 2007 which they lost to South Africa. Here are five talking points heading into the match:
Moment of truth
Eddie Jones made it clear from the instant he was appointed four years ago that he wanted to be judged on England’s performance at the World Cup.
Now the defining moment of his reign has arrived, a match he insists he has been preparing for since the draw was made in Kyoto in May 2017. Judgement day awaits.
(Continue reading below…)
Beyond Japan
Shrouded in uncertainly, Jones’ future provides a fascinating subtext to the knockout phase. Defeat to Australia in the quarter-finals would have pushed him towards the exit door, but his Twickenham stewardship now looks far more secure, regardless of the outcome against New Zealand. And he is not without alternative options, having been linked to Fiji and Australia.
New Zealand chase three-peat
The All Blacks‘ more recent World Cup record is remarkable having not lost a game since 2007. In the intervening years, they have lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy twice and are favourites to claim a third successive global crown on November 2. If England are to repeat their achievement of 2003, they will have done it the hard way.
With Owen Farrell impeccable as the England No10 last weekend, @AndyGoode10 believes Eddie Jones has got it wrong by switching him to No12 to accommodate George Ford's recall versus the All Blacks https://t.co/OgWuhLQ7XK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2019
Winning formula
Although England were edged 16-15 by the All Blacks at Twickenham last autumn, their ranks are full of players who know what it takes to topple the world champions. Ten of the starting XV have tasted victory against them, as either part of the famous 2012 triumph or with the Lions who prevailed in the second Test in Wellington two years ago.
Ford as ringmaster
The biggest selection story of England’s World Cup has been the identity of their fly-half and it is George Ford who has been given the nod on this occasion, nudging Owen Farrell to inside centre.
Ford was dropped against Australia in order to stiffen the defence knowing the problems bulldozing centre Samu Kerevi can cause, but it is felt that an extra pair of playmaker’s eyes and hands are what is required against New Zealand.
WATCH: Jim Hamilton previews World Cup semi-final weekend in the latest episode of Don’t Mess With Jim
Comments on RugbyPass
Yeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
1 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
4 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
4 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
4 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to comments