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England reconstructed their back division following the close-shave Test defeat by the All Blacks in Auckland nine days ago, only to find the world champions had rediscovered enough of the best of themselves to trump the changes in Dunedin. Now the tourists face the prospect of ripping up Plan B and going back to Plan A.
Owen Farrell, the senior outside-half and principal goal-kicker, suffered a knee injury towards the end of Saturday’s Test and is struggling to make the final game of the series in Hamilton this weekend. The two first-choice centres from the Six Nations, Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell, have ankle problems while the scrum-half Danny Care has given his shoulder another wrench. He too may miss the last match of a long campaign.
All four were awaiting medical assessments, but with preparation time at a premium – not to mention the added complication of tomorrow’s midweek fixture against the Canterbury-based Crusaders – head coach Stuart Lancaster spent yesterday thinking through his alternatives. He may have no choice but to restore the rejuvenated Freddie Burns at No 10, ask Kyle Eastmond and Manu Tuilagi to resume the centre partnership that promised so much in the Auckland Test and give Chris Ashton a start on the right wing.
Show all 32 1 /32New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Ben Smith - 9 At times he bordered on the sublime, and he prospered at full-back in the absence of Israel Dagg. His try swung the momentum in the All Blacks’ favour and started their 20 minute period of utter domination.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Corey Jane - 6 The quiet man of New Zealand’s lethal back-three but he performed everything to a high level in a mistake-free performance. Defensively sound against the dangerous Yarde.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Conrad Smith - 9 His tactical genius tormented Twelvetrees and Burrell, with his dummy on the former their final try a particular highlight. A linchpin in the Kiwi back line, and England need to find a way to deal with him.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Ma'a Nonu - 8 The improvement in a just seven days was huge, as Nonu had a devastating effect on England’s defence. He ran hard yet showed impressive agility to dance through miniscule gaps, and his passing opened the channels for those outside him.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Julian Savea - 8 The wing just doesn’t know how not to score. Each time he got his hands on the ball he threatened to break free, and score his fifth try against England in just three meetings to take his overall tally to 20 in 21 Tests.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Aaron Cruden - 7 His break for Smith’s try was beautifully crafted as he identified the gap between the lagging forwards. Kicking could have been better, but he controlled the flow of a rampant back line very well.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Aaron Smith - 7 Showed just how big a threat the small man can be, as he plugged away at the gaps around the England maul and scrum to good effect. Spurned a chance in the first half though.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Tony Woodcock - 6 Coped much better in the scrum after recovering from a difficult start. Somewhat quiet in the loose though and could look to up his work rate.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Dan Coles - 7 A much better game saw him replaced by Mealamu when the game was won. 100 per cent at the lineout gave the All Blacks a strong platform to attack from. A good day’s work.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Owen Franks - 6 Struggled early with pressure from Marler in the scrum. Still non-existent in the loose, and needs to offer more going forward to help out the rest of the pack.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Brodie Retallick - 7 A very good showing from the lock as he secured lineout ball repeatedly and disrupted England’s set piece to strong effect. Tackled and ran well, and helped to nullify England’s forward advantage of the first Test.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Sam Whitelock - 7 Ran repeatedly although saw little success in terms of ground gained. Stole English ball on one occasion, and worked well with Retallick to improve significantly on last week’s poor showing.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Liam Messam - 7 Not as destructive on defence as we have grown accustomed to but popped up a number of times out wide, and could have had a try is Conrad Smith hadn’t passed straight into touch.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Richie McCaw - 6 When can you ever say McCaw missed a tackle to allow a try. Unusual lapse allowed Yarde to score early, but recovered quickly after. Nearly had a try of his own only to be held up by replacement Matt Mullan.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Jerome Kaino - 8 Marauding back-row made some impressive gains, especially during New Zealand’s purple patch. Constantly a threat with hand in ball, as he combined pace and power to beat defenders.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Beuden Barrett - 7 Introduced in the second half and probed the England defence to great effect. Kick very well too and is pressuring Cruden to start.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Mike Brown - 6 Settled much quicker this week, and never gave up as he set-up the final try for England after scoring a debateable one of his own. Hasn’t been at his best in New Zealand though.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Manu Tuilagi - 7 Wasted on the wing, as he looked to use brawn over pace when he got the ball. Took risks with a number of offloads which luckily paid off, but spurned a chance in the first half for a breakaway try.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Luther Burrell - 6 Ran hard at the New Zealand line but more often than not found a stiff defence in front of him. Should partner Tuilagi next week as he continues to develop.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Billy Twelvetrees - 4 A poor game by all accounts for the returning centre. Lack of match practice didn’t help, especially against the All Blacks, and a number of mistakes put his side under pressure.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Marland Yarde - 6 Took his chance early very well as he broke the tackle of McCaw, and threated throughout the opening 40. Faded as England were starved of the ball, and was caught out for Nonu’s try.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Owen Farrell - 6 His control of England’s game was evidently shown when he was absent for 10 minutes for killing the ball. Could have shown more in attack, but reliable with his kicking as he landed four from five. Kicking from hand must be better.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Danny Care - 5 Set-up Yarde’s try but showed a rare sloppiness in his game. Dropped the ball twice after England’s pack has worked hard to gain momentum.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Joe Marler - 6 Had a tremendous start against Franks in the scrum, and his carrying was good. Could have done more to get on the front-foot and was horribly mismatched by Savea for Smith’s try.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Rob Webber - 6 Lost his 100 per cent record at the lineout as they lost three on their own throw. Replaced by Hartley early in the second half.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings David Wilson - 7 A better game in the loose and even showed his footwork with one impressive run late and a kick early on. Knows he can do more in the scrum as England gained momentum towards the end.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Joe Launchbury - 6 Very quiet in both the lineout and around the park, and could be in danger of losing his place to Lawes next week.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Geoff Parling - 6 Stuart Lancaster stuck with him for his control, and he attracted a lot of attention in the lineout. Smashed opposite number Retallick in the first half with a powerful tackle.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Tom Wood - 6 Took on a lot of responsibility in the lineout and showed good hands to create the final try. Ran his heart out and unlucky to be on the losing side.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Chris Robshaw - 6 Snaffled a long-range pass with a turn of pace akin to a natural seven, and performed his usual link role between the pack and the backs to reasonable effect. Not as prominent in the loose though.
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New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Ben Morgan - 6 Much quitter this week but showed one good run off the base of the scrum to inject England with some go forward. Likely to be replaced by Vunipola next week.
New Zealand 28 England 27: Second test player ratings Chris Ashton - 6 His contribution was minimal in time but maximal in effect as he scored in the dying seconds. Pushing his claim to start next week.
The Crusaders game is likely to be extremely testing for England’s non-Test contingent. Todd Blackadder, coach of the Super 15 outfit, was in no position to name anything approaching a full-strength side thanks to All Black call-ups, but a powerful front row and a loose-forward combination featuring two of the Whitelock brothers, supported by an organiser as gifted as the outside-half Tyler Bleyendaal, spells danger.
Lancaster is likely to pair Ed Slater with Dave Attwood in the engine room, run Matt Kvesic on the open-side flank and name Brad Barritt as his go-to man in midfield.
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