England End All Blacks’ Grand Slam Bid with Statement Win at Twickenham

In a stunning turnaround, England beat New Zealand 33-19 on Saturday at Twickenham, dealing a serious blow to the All Blacks’ autumn tour and ending their hopes of a Grand Slam.

England’s Comeback Seals Historic Win: The All Blacks looked confident early, racing to a 12-0 lead through tries from Leicester Fainga’anuku and Codie Taylor. But England struck back in style, producing 25 unanswered points spanning the end of the first half and the early part of the second.

Sam Underhill, Fraser Dingwall, and Tom Roebuck all crossed for tries in the second half, showing England’s power and composure when it mattered most. George Ford was the architect of the turnaround – two crucial drop goals before halftime, plus a late penalty, gave England the momentum and control.

All Blacks’ Painful Mistakes and Missed Chances: New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was blunt in assessing his side’s performance. While the All Blacks “created a lot,” he said, “we just didn’t take advantage of it.” Codie Taylor’s yellow card early in the second half was a turning point, putting England on top.

A late try by Will Jordan gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope, but England closed out the game strongly — Ford’s penalty wrapped it up, and Roebuck’s final try sealed the deal.

England Celebrate, All Blacks Reflect:For England, this win is both symbolic and strategic. It’s their first at Twickenham over the All Blacks since 2012, and only their ninth overall in more than a century of clashes.

Coach Steve Borthwick praised Ford’s leadership and vision, calling him “a brilliant player, an outstanding leader.” Borthwick also highlighted the resilience of his team, who refused to be intimidated by New Zealand’s reputation.

What This Means for the All Blacks: Grand Slam hopes dashed: New Zealand’s dreams of a clean sweep in this autumn tour (after wins over Ireland and Scotland) are now over. Performance concerns: The All Blacks’ inability to capitalise on their early dominance raises serious questions. Robertson pointed to missed chances and lack of execution in critical moments. Tour winding down: New Zealand will look to rebound in their final match of the tour against Wales, but this loss will sting.

Image: All Blacks.com

RELATED NEWS

Auditor General calls an OT decision unacceptable What is the Five Eyes? & what is NZs role? Maori unemployment in Auckland on the rise