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Joining the immortals - how England's record-equalling run compares to New Zealand
England matched a record of 18 consecutive tier-one victories set by powerhouses New Zealand with their 61-21 dismantling of Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.
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The hammering ensured Eddie Jones’ men retained the championship and means they can complete back-to-back Grand Slams by beating Ireland in Dublin this weekend.
Victory would also see them better the All Blacks‘ run, which came to an end against Ireland in November.
But on both lists New Zealand and England have one notable name missing…each other.
So how does England’s run rank against the world champions? Using Opta data we take a look…
18 – @EnglandRugby have won their last 18 games, equaling the @AllBlacks’ record for most consecutive victories by a Tier One team. History. pic.twitter.com/BbpDyRiqmf
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) March 11, 2017
PROWESS IN ATTACK
England’s run started under former head coach Stuart Lancaster with a 60-3 battering of Uruguay in a dead-rubber pool match from their embarrassing home Rugby World Cup group-stage exit.
Since then, England have racked up 621 points at an average of 34.5 per game, but that is a score less than New Zealand, who racked up 751 points at an average of 41.7.
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Steve Hansen’s men also scored more tries with 104 compared to England’s 72 – 5.8 per game as opposed to four.
The All Blacks are also the more dominant victors, with their winning margins averaging at 27.7, while England’s is at 17.8.
DEFENSIVE SOLIDARITY
Matches are not just won in attack, but in keeping the opposition at bay as well.
And New Zealand also hold the upper hand in this regard. During their run they conceded 253 points and just 18 tries, while England yielded 300 and 31.
On average, the All Blacks gave up just 14.1 points per match and one try, while England’s is slightly higher at 16.7 and 1.7.
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THE OPPOSITION
England’s current team may be missing the notable scalp of New Zealand, but some of the world’s best have been dispatched during their run.
Indeed, the team they have beaten on most occasions is Australia on four – including a historic 3-0 series whitewash Down Under last June.
The Aussies were also the team to have accounted for the most defeats by New Zealand, who overcame their Bledisloe Cup rivals five times – including the World Cup final.
England’s biggest win was their trouncing of Uruguay, while the All Blacks saved that honour for the 62-13 demolition of France in the World Cup quarter-finals.
France almost derailed England’s bid in the opening match of this year’s Six Nations before Jones’ men triumphed 19-16 – their smallest margin of victory under the Australian.
New Zealand won by fewer than 10 points just once during their streak, that coming the 20-18 World Cup semi-final win against South Africa.
KEY PLAYERS
It will be no surprise to see Owen Farrell top the points scorers during England’s run at 259. That beats the 144 of New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett, although the fly-half was deputy to the great Dan Carter (98) until his retirement after the World Cup final.
No one can better Julian Savea’s 15 tries, including a hat-trick in the France rout, although Jonathan Joseph’s own treble against Scotland at the weekend means he now has 11 – more than any England player during the run of wins.
Dan Cole has started all 18 matches for England, with Danny Care and George Ford playing a part in every game. No player was in the starting XI for each of New Zealand’s wins, although Kieran Read and Ben Smith were involved in all the games.
11 – @EnglandRugby‘s Jonathan Joseph has scored 11 Test tries since the beginning of 2016, more than any other Tier One player. Update. pic.twitter.com/KREvAfUiYZ
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) March 11, 2017
WHAT THEIR RUNS YIELDED
In truth, Jones and Hansen will admit winning runs count for little if it fails to produce trophies.
England have won the Six Nations twice thanks to their record-equalling effort, but the All Blacks take the edge due to their World Cup win and a Rugby Championship to boot.
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments