All Blacks edge England in dramatic ending at Twickenham

LONDON (AP) — England’s George Ford missed two last-gasp shots at goal and New Zealand held on to win a dramatic but scrappy autumn rugby series opener 24-22 at Twickenham on Saturday.

A brilliant solo try by wing Mark Tele’a, converted from the sideline by Damian McKenzie, regained New Zealand a two-point lead with three minutes to go.

But then Anton Lienert-Brown was sin-binned for a head-on-head tackle and Ford lined up an angled penalty kick from 40 meters with two to go.

It rebounded off the right post.

The hosts got a scrum in the 22, though, with the sell-out crowd of 82,000 baying England on, but New Zealand spoiled the scrum, and a rushed drop goal attempt by Ford after the 80-minute hooter flew well wide.

The All Blacks completed a hat trick of wins against England this year, the margins by a combined 10 points.

“I didn’t think we had that in the end. We got lucky with the penalty kick, but rugby is a game of fine margins and we will take it,” All Blacks No. 8 Ardie Savea told TNT Sports.

“For us to stay in it and defend the goal-line like that, I’m very proud of the boys. England’s pack were bringing line speed and they were putting big shots on us. Glad to get the win.”

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England was denied a first home win over the All Blacks since 2012 despite perfect kicking off the tee by Marcus Smith, who went six for six for 17 points.

The result was a setback to England hopes of improving on closing out tight games. It has lost four tests by seven or less this year, has a 4-5 win-loss record, and Australia, South Africa and Japan to come.

Coach Steve Borthwick defended replacing Smith with Ford, and rued losing by “the width of a post.”

“We didn’t get the win we wanted but I think everyone can see this team is developing into a very strong team,” Borthwick said. “Ultimately this is the width of the post. That’s the reality. It is the width of the post that the result goes one way or the other.”

Joe Marler’s anti-haka comments dominated the buildup but the inactive England prop came to the game and was seen having a pre-match laugh with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. The haka saw England advance shoulder to shoulder to halfway and the All Blacks advance as well within spitting distance to set the stage.

Smith kicked the first points and New Zealand replied with its first try when Wallace Sititi’s offload with two defenders on him freed Tele’a into the right corner.

New Zealand responded to another Smith penalty with its second try. Will Jordan scissored off Beauden Barrett and raced 30 meters for his 36th try in his 38th test.

New Zealand led 14-6 after 30 minutes but while it was creating more, it was also making the most mistakes and allowing England to stay in touch.

The All Blacks conceded eight of the nine penalties in the first half, two in the scrum that was so reliable in the Rugby Championship but critically missing loosehead prop Ethan de Groot, who wasn’t selected after breaching team rules.

Smith kicked England within two by halftime and the game was following the script of the two close July tests in New Zealand.

Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso underlined it moments into the new half when he achieved a try in every match against New Zealand this year, finishing off Smith’s intercept on his own 22.

Smith’s fifth penalty gave England a 22-14 lead to start the last quarter, and he was replaced by Ford, who was given his first match in five weeks after a thigh tear, to shepherd England home.

McKenzie came on for Tele’a and nailed his first goalkick in the 67th. But Tele’a was already back on after Beauden Barrett needed a head injury check.

With tension rising, the All Blacks forced a kickable penalty with five minutes to go but tapped it. Tele’a was on the end of a chain with the England defense covering but he shrugged off Ford and carried Harry Randall over the try-line.

McKenzie’s equally remarkable touchline conversion put New Zealand in front but then its year-long discipline issues reared up when Lienert-Brown was yellow-carded.

But Ford couldn’t seize his chances.

“I tell you what, he hasn’t missed many in his career so we certainly can’t blame him for that,” captain Jamie George said.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby