England are into their fourth World Cup final, after dumping out double reigning champions New Zealand 19-7 in the first Rugby World Cup semi-final.
England 19-7 New Zealand
England tryscorers: Tuilagi
England conversations: Farrell
England penalties: Ford (4)
New Zealand tryscorers: A Savea
New Zealand conversations: Mo'unga
New Zealand penalties:
Match Highlights
Match Report
England are into their fourth World Cup final, after dumping out double reigning champions New Zealand 19-7 in the first Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Eddie Jones’ side were magnificent from start to finish, not allowing the All Blacks into the contest, as they inflicted their first World Cup defeat in 12 years.
Owen Farrell 1-0 Haka
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 26, 2019
England 19-7 New Zealand
No Fear#ENGvNZL @owen_faz pic.twitter.com/fnPo5qYCxg
England were aggressive and clever in defence, and creative and brave in attack, constantly running the ball and stretching New Zealand. That tactic allowed Manu Tuilagi to cross after just two minutes, with an Owen Farrell conversion and George Ford penalty giving them a 10-0 half-time lead, although it should have been much more.
Ben Youngs had a second-half try ruled out by the TMO, as did Sam Underhill in the first half, but Ford still extended their lead to 13-0, as the Kiwis failed to gain any momentum.
The champions got back into the game as Ardie Savea scored from five metres out, as he collected a miss thrown England line-out.
But England did not panic, instead earning more penalties with Ford slotting another two to keep their opponents at bay and secure one of their greatest ever victories.
England will now face Wales or South Africa, who play on Sunday, in next Saturday’s final.
From the moment Tuilagi crossed after 97 seconds an extraordinary match beckoned and the final scoreline did little justice to the domination of Jones' men, who were superior in every single facet of the game.
New Zealand had won their previous 18 World Cup matches dating back to 2007 but at International Stadium Yokohama they were flattened by a juggernaut led by the unstoppable Maro Itoje.
Everywhere across the pitch they won significant battles, Itoje supported by brilliant flankers Tom Curry and Underhill, who carried the fight to feared opponents right from the start.
Who can forget how the day all began!
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) October 26, 2019
No fear from the boys in white in the face of the Haka ✊#ITVRugby #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/cRZKRUTHCN
New Zealand's selection of lock Scott Barrett as an additional line-out jumper at six backfired as they were demolished at the set-piece to the point that Sam Cane, a recognised flanker, was brought on at half-time.
The withdrawal of Barrett was a stark admission by coach Steve Hansen that his tactics were misjudged but by the time Cane arrived it was too late, the ascendency at the breakdown of Curry and Underhill was complete.
It is hard to recall the All Blacks ever being made to look so ordinary as they searched in vain for the inspiration that would save them from disaster - and the fightback never came.
Midway through the first-half, Farrell began limping and despite being beckoned for an examination by the team doctor, he battled on and even sprinted out for the second-half.
Having converted Tuilagi's try, Farrell's only sacrifice was to give up the kicking duties to fly-half Ford, who proceeded to land four penalties to match his brilliance as ringmaster.
Casting shadows over the win were injuries to wing Jonny May and Kyle Sinckler that place them in doubt for the final at the same venue, while Farrell will surely be looked at closely.
England faced the arrow head formation of the Haka with a V-shape and the act of defiance - led by a pumped-up Joe Marler - was followed by an extraordinary start that saw them cross almost immediately.
Elliot Daly launched the attack with a dart down the right and several phases later, after clever off-loads by Courtney Lawes and Sinckler, a huge hole had opened up in the All Blacks defence to enable Tuilagi to grab and score.
England might have had a second shortly after when Tuilagi read an attack to begin a counter that ended when May was unable to find Farrell with the line beckoning.
The opening quarter was played at breakneck speed with the rivals taking it in turns to stage blistering attacks, but overall New Zealand were struggling to hold back the white tide.
Up front they were being pummelled as Lawes pinched their line-out ball and Itoje plundered a maul turnover.
England thought they were over in the 24th minute but were pulled back for crossing and in response the All Blacks stepped up a gear, Brodie Retallick forcing a gap that would have resulted in a try but for a poor final pass.
A scrum penalty was the prelude to another spell of English dominance that continued with two breakdown penalties as New Zealand struggled to escape the vice-like grip of the underdogs.
Farrell's obvious discomfort meant Ford kicked a penalty to extend the lead to 10-0 at half-time and there was no let-up as England exploded out of the blocks for the second half.
A second try was disallowed for the ball being moved forward at a maul just before Youngs slipped through a gap, but a Ford penalty at least rewarded yet another visit to the 22.
May and Sinckler had limped off by now, victims of the punishing intensity, and suddenly New Zealand upped the tempo with Sevu Reece only being kept out by a double tackle by Henry Slade and Tuilagi.
Disaster struck for England at the ensuing line-out as Jamie George missed Itoje completely with his throw, instead finding Savea who scored one of the easiest tries of his life.
The response from the 2003 champions was emphatic as they blitzed their way downfield, winning a penalty for Ford to convert.
A sign of New Zealand's frustration came when Sam Whitelock shoved Farrell in the head, reversing a penalty, and when Ford sent his fourth kick between the uprights their World Cup was over.
England finished with their bench on the pitch yet still steamrollering the disillusioned black shirts as they sealed their fourth appearance in the World Cup final.
Match Stats
- England beat New Zealand for the first time since 2012, ending a six-game losing streak against the All Blacks, and for the first time at a World Cup after three previous defeats.
- New Zealand lost a World Cup match for the first time since the 2007 quarter-final, having recorded an 18-game winning streak since that defeat.
- England have reached the final for the fourth time - no side has reached that stage more often (level with New Zealand and Australia).
- New Zealand were kept scoreless in the first half of a World Cup match for just the second time (the other versus Australia in the 1991 quarter-final) and for the first time in any Test match since their 2012 defeat by England.
- England won 16 turnovers against New Zealand, the most by any side at this year's World Cup and England's joint-most in a match at the tournament, also winning 16 against Japan in 1987.
- Maro Itoje won three turnovers in a match for the third time at the tournament - no other player has managed that more than once at this World Cup.
- Sam Whitelock lost a World Cup match for the first time in his career - his 18-game winning run was the longest of any player in the tournament's history.
How it happened...
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