Rugby: Spare a thought for an England coach under time pressure
Usually it is hard to sympathise with the England rugby side. They have playing resources and finances well beyond the imagination of their All Black counterparts.
Usually it is hard to sympathise with the England rugby side. They have playing resources and finances well beyond the imagination of their All Black counterparts.
Sadly this was just a game too far for England. Mentally, emotionally and psychologically they were off the pace and you simply cannot afford that against New Zealand.
Stuart Lancaster described Julian Savea as a "phenomenal player" but will be more than happy to see the back of him after the ABs' left wing continued his try-scoring exploits against England.
There is, as England will testify, a gap between them and the All Blacks. They will be tempted to believe it's not that big and more tempted, again, to believe that in 15 months at the World Cup, it won't be there at all.
England are a serious World Cup threat, not in the round ball code but in the oval game tournament they host next year.
The test series with England has been a big success. For that we must acknowledge the contribution of the visitors as much as the All Blacks.
When England pieced together their side for tonight's final test, they changed up their backline.
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is keen to beat England and take the series 3-0 in Hamilton, knowing England backs coach Andy Farrell is backing his team to overcome the narrow losses and avoid the whitewash.
The All Blacks haven't been perfect in their first two tests, but they have won and the spoils of victory include the right to ask questions about England's likely state of mind leading into the final clash.
England have an unusual situation whereby their tour captain, halfback Callum Braley, has not been able to command a regular starting gig.
From Blues reject to All Black starter in less than a year, Malakai Fekitoa has been charged with showing similar speed and perseverance in the final test of the June series.
The driving maul is one facet of play England have used extremely effectively in this June series.
England finally have some rugby reward in New Zealand. After two narrow test defeats, on a night when they also shed injured five-eighths Owen Farrell from the tour, the midweek men pumped the Crusaders in Christchurch.
England have travelled to Christchurch to play the '4th Test' according to forwards coach Graham Rowntree, captain Ed Slater and his team are keen to impress World Cup selectors and support the earthquake rebuild of the city.
England coached Andy Farrel and Stuart Lancaster lament the critical decision making that let the All Blacks dominate the third quarter of Dunedin's second test match.
If 2014 is to be as successful for the All Blacks as 2013, it will be the tight five who take them there.
Ben Smith can sit on the fence as much as he likes in regard to his positional fate in Hamilton, but the All Black selectors won't.
Whether by accident or design, 48 minutes of action were stolen at Eden Park in the first test of the year and the All Blacks are anxious that such a crime won't be allowed to take place in Dunedin.
All England's chariots are facing the right direction, none of the wheels have lost a cotter pin and the gladiators are reading from the same team opus.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster knows with the roof over Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium it will provide perfect conditions for both teams making for a great match.
England lock Joe Launchbury addresses media accusations of deliberate time wasting before set pieces (scrums/lineouts) in the first test against the All Blacks.
Rugby scribes join NZ Herald's Wynne Gray, Robert Kitson (The Guardian) and Chris Hewett (The Independent) discuss the upcoming test match in Dunedin. Does England have what it takes to win the second test match?
England prop Joe Marler knows the second test against the All Blacks will be much tougher, but believes if they fine tune a few things they got wrong at Eden Park they could push the All Blacks a lot closer.
Rugby players and altruism rarely shape as partners but England hooker Dylan Hartley is doing his best to foster that impression.
England are considering whether to move Manu Tuilagi to the wing to boost their resources for the all-important second test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.
All the carping about England's style is boring, writes Wynne Gray. Let them play the game how they want. They had their plans for the opening test at Eden Park and for much of the match they put the All Blacks under enormous pressure.
Assistant coach Mike Catt says it will be a tough selection process for the coaching staff after an excellent performance during the first test. With the return of players after their premiere finals, hooker, Dylan Hartley is keen to get amongst the squad and get his chance to play against the world champions.
There has been a lot of talk that Saturday's match was a classic test: a tight, gripping antidote to Super Rugby.
Choice, we heard, was going to be England's problem for the opening test. Cup ties and injury meant they did not have enough quality players to stay with the All Blacks.
Jerome Kaino solved a problem for the All Blacks in Auckland and now, following a huge performance at Eden Park, he's created a problem for later in the series.