England 21 New Zealand 24: Same old story as England lick their wounds

That New Zealand had enough to overcome England once again, and it did not require a vintage performance to do so.

This was the world champions at their grinding best, picking up the gauntlet laid down by the buoyant hosts in the first quarter, accepting the challenge and then raising the stakes in the second half.

This was not the expansive All Blacks we have come to watch in awe; attacks orchestrated with flair, ambitious offloads and support runners in perfect harmony with ball carriers.

This was the world’s top-ranked team showing they can win by other means, strangling the life out of opponents with game-management and hard graft, even when down to 14 men.

Dane Coles was sin-binned for a petulant kick on Danny Care midway through the second half, around the time when the heavens opened, but within moments it was irrelevant, such was the ease at which the black shirts moved up another gear.

It meant that for a fifth successive time against New Zealand, England were left to wonder what might have been.

Stuart Lancaster was forced to meet the press, his book of tactics and scribbles clutched against his chest, to once again talk about how close they had come.

That is four straight defeats now for Lancaster’s England, though all of them have been against the world champions.

Three of those have been by less than a try, though the three-point deficit on Saturday flattered England, who after that opening 20-minute spell were second best by a distance. Ten months out from the start of the World Cup, they still have not found a way to add to that historic win over the All Blacks two years ago.

They will, hopefully, be reinforced by seven British and Irish Lions missing this autumn, and perhaps Yorkshire’s Sam Burgess, should they meet again in next year’s tournament.

But the All Blacks will also be stronger. For all the tourists’ forward grunt, orchestrated by peerless captain Richie McCaw, this win was accomplished without their offensive spark, Dan Carter, who sat on the bench in the pouring rain as his under-studies, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett, missed 10 points between them.

Cruden proved able in scoring a contentious first-half try that quickly negated all the hard work England had done, and kicking two more penalties that meant for all England’s dominance, they led only 14-11 at the break.

It had been an opening that got Twickenham to its feet.

May scored a try right out of the All Blacks’ book for audacity, taking on Israel Dagg on his outside as he raced over from 40 metres. He could have had another moments later had he got a kinder bounce.

Kyle Eastmond’s pass for debutant Semesa Rokoduguni – who was better defensively than offensively – was wayward but it had enough legs to tantalise Mike Brown who could not grasp it with the line beckoning.

Credit to Eastmond for proving his doubters wrong with a terrific defensive performance, keeping Sonny Bill Williams shackled throughout.

New Zealand’s response to this early onslaught was measured. They never panicked and, on their first foray, flanker Jerome Kaino barrelled over the 22 and Cruden followed up, dotting the ball down at the second attempt.

Owen Farrell and Cruden traded penalties; England’s set-piece forcing the visiting infringements. Then Care, taking a trademark quick-tap penalty, created another chance for Farrell to boot England into the lead.

For all the ferocity of the first period, England returned decidedly limp for the restart and New Zealand pounced; prop Owen Franks caught the hosts off guard with a forceful run that created a three-on-one opportunity that McCaw gratefully accepted.

Cruden’s failed conversion attempt kept the score to within two, and although Coles was off the field, the All Blacks drained the life out of the contest before a third try by Charlie Faumuina and a Barrett penalty.

The power of England’s pack forced a penalty try at the death when the rain finally eased. Their decision to take a scrum instead of kicking to touch caused questions about their own game management, as the scrum had to be reset, wasting time.

But that was just clutching at straws. England had long since been beaten by the team that continue to set the standard.

England: Brown, Rokoduguni (Watson 62), Barritt, Eastmond (Ford 65), May, Farrell, Care (Youngs 62); Marler (Mullan 55), Hartley (Webber 74), Wilson (Brookes 74), Attwood, Lawes (Kruis 20), Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola (Morgan 53).

New Zealand: Dagg, B Smith (Crotty 48), C Smith, Williams, Savea, Cruden (Barrett 60), A Smith (Perenara 67); Crockett (B Franks 60), Coles, O Franks (Faumuina 48), Retallick (Tuipulotu 40), Whitelock, Kaino (Messam 67), McCaw, Read. Unused replacements: Mealamu.

Referee: N Owens (Wales).