All Blacks v England test series stat attack

• By Peter Marriott 

The All Blacks have just completed a two-test series over England, winning both internationals narrowly.
A comprehensive Stat Attack follows by Peter Marriott, starting with the second test this past Saturday in Auckland and the first test in Dunedin below that.

New Zealand v England in Auckland: Won 24-17

New Zealand and England first met in a test match at Crystal Palace in London on 2 December 1905. It was New Zealand’s sixth-ever international and at that stage they had yet to experience a defeat. They beat England 15-0.

Since then the two sides have played a total of 45 tests: the All Blacks have won 35, England eight and there have been two draws.

England was the first of the four home countries to play a test in New Zealand. That was in 1963 when they played two internationals and since then they have made eight further trips to this country. In total, England have now played 17 tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand and have won just twice. The first time was a one-off match in Auckland in 1973 (won 16-10) and the most recent was another one-off match, this time in Wellington, in 2003 and won 15-13 by the visitors. The All Blacks have won all nine matches played in NewZealand since then.

This was the seventh match played between the two teams at Eden Park in Auckland. England’s sole win at this venue was in 1973, almost 51 years ago.

The All Blacks have played a total of 96 test matches in Auckland, at four different venues. Their first-ever test was at Potter’s Park in 1908 and there was another single test played at the Epsom Showgrounds in 1958. In 2021 and 2023 tests were played at Mount Smart Stadium. Eden Park has hosted 92 tests for 79 wins (85.9%), 10 losses and three draws.

Auckland has become an All Black fortress to the extent they have not lost a test there since being beaten 23-20 by France on 3 July 1994, some 30 years and 10 days ago. The All Blacks have since played 51 tests in Auckland and apart from two drawn matches (the one played against South Africa immediately following the

French match and the other against the British & Irish Lions in 2017), they have won every single one. (Two of those 51 matches were at Mount Smart Stadium and 49 at Eden Park).

For this match the All Blacks made just one change to their XXIII from the one which played in the first test in Dunedin. England made two changes. Injuries dictated all three changes.

Mark Tele’a’s two tries in the match took his total in 11 test appearances to eight. It was the third time he has scored two tries in the same test. The first occasion was on debut against Scotland at Edinburgh in November 2022 and the second time was against France at Paris in the All Blacks opening Pool Match at last year’s Rugby World Cup. These were Tele’a’s first tries against England.

Damian McKenzie kicked 14 points to take his total for the two-test series to 20. He is the highest point-scorer from either side. In 49 tests McKenzie now has 188 points including 25 against England.

McKenzie’s four penalties in the match doubled his total in all matches to eight: he had kicked just four in his previous 48 tests.
McKenzie’s fourth penalty attempt hit the left-hand upright and went over.

The All Blacks had not kicked four penalties in any test since their match against South Africa at Cbus SuperStadium in Robina in 2021 (32 tests previously) and not against England since kicking five at Auckland in 2014.

Cortez Ratima made his test debut for New Zealand in the 54th minute when he replaced the starting halfback Finlay Christie. Ratima becomes All Black #1214.

This had been a rare start for Christie: just his fifth in 23 test matches.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored his fourth try for England in his sixth test. He also scored a try in the first test in Dunedin.

Tommy Freeman scored his second try in his 12th test match. It was his first against New Zealand.

Marcus Smith added seven points to go with the five he kicked in Dunedin.

Smith attempted a drop goal but was unsuccessful.

Ben Spencer was on the England bench as the replacement halfback but did not get onto the field.

Australian referee Nic Berry was in charge of his sixth test involving the All Blacks.

The All Blacks have now played a total of 639 test matches. They have won 491 (76.8%), lost 125 and drawn 23.

Some facts and figures from the First Test in Dunedin

The All Blacks beat England by one point, the 22nd time they have won a test by this margin. They have beaten Australia on eight occasions, England four times, South Africa three times (all in South Africa), British Isles, France and Wales two times each and Ireland once.

The four matches won by one point against England are: 1979 (10-9 at Twickenham), 2014 (28-27 at Dunedin), 2018 (16-15 at Twickenham) and 2024 (16-15 at Dunedin). There is a pattern here.

The All Blacks last three matches against England have resulted in a loss, a draw and a win.

The All Blacks have now played the four home countries for a combined total of exactly 150 times: 44 matches against England, 37 against Ireland, 32 against Scotland and 37 against Wales. They have won 129 (86.0%) of those matches, lost 16 and drawn five. Fifty-one matches have been played in New Zealand for 47 wins (92.1%) and four losses.

For the first time since 1989, there were no debutants in the All Black side for the opening match of the year.

During this period any number between one and four would usually make their debut but in the years 1999 (against Samoa at Albany), 2005 (against Fiji at Albany) and 2010 (against Ireland at New Plymouth) a total of six new players were introduced to test rugby in each of those matches.

New Zealand’s first-ever test was played in 1903 but 2024 is actually the 100th year in which they have played a test. From 1903 to 1948, (the last year they did not play a match) there were 22 seasons missed. Of their first matches played each year they have won 81, lost 17 and drawn two. They have not lost an opening match since 2009 (against France at Dunedin) although they did draw 16-16 against Australia at Wellington in 2020.

The first test to be held in Dunedin was against Australia on 2 September 1905 which New Zealand won 14-3.

It was a one-off match at Tahuna Park and from 1908 the following 38 tests were held at Carisbrook. In 2010 a new venue, Forsyth Barr Stadium, was introduced and there have now been 10 tests played there. The All Blacks have won 42 tests (at 85.7%) in Dunedin, lost six and drawn one. Those six losses have been against Great Britain (1930), British Isles (1971), Australia (2001), South Africa (2008), France (2009) and Ireland (2022, to date the only All Black loss at Forsyth Barr Stadium).

Dunedin has now been the venue for the All Blacks first test of the year on 17 occasions. They have won 13 times, lost three times and drawn once. The losses were in 1930, 1971 and 2009. The draw was in 1950.

The All Blacks and England have met four times in Dunedin: the home side has won all four matches. In 1998 they won 64-22, in 2004 the score was 36-3, in 2014 it was 28-27 and in 2024 it was again by a margin of one point (16-15).

England and New Zealand had never before played a test match in July. They have not met previously in August either.

There were 11 changes to the New Zealand 23 and 17 to the England 23 from the two sides which last played each other 20 months ago in the drawn match at Twickenham.

For the first time since the final two matches of the Rugby World Cup of 2011 (the Semifinal against Australia and the Final against France) the All Blacks failed to kick a conversion in successive matches. In their final match last year (the Final of the Rugby World Cup against South Africa) they missed their only chance at converting a try.

Scott Barrett became the 74th All Black test captain. He is the first player who has represented Taranaki (2021) to lead the All Blacks since Andrew Hore did so in a one-off test against Canada at Wellington during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Of the 74 All Black captains, just 13 of them lost their first match in charge, the two most recent instances being Sean Fitzpatrick against the World XV at Christchurch in 1992 and Mils Muliaina against France at Dunedin in 2009.

Several of the All Black captains in recent times have had to accumulate many matches under their belt before being given the honour of leading their country at test level. Scott Barrett had to “wait”until his 70th test to be captain but there are three others who had to “wait” longer. Brodie Retallick’s first test in charge was his 87th, Sam Whitelock’s first test was his 96th but Aaron Smith had to “wait” even longer. His one and only time as leader was in his 98th test appearance. At the other end of the scale, nine players have been captain on their test debut the most recent being Andy Leslie whose first test for the All Blacks was against Australia at Sydney in 1974.

Of the 74 players who have captained the All Blacks, 46 have been forwards and 28 have been backs.This was Scott Robertson’s first test match as All Blacks Head Coach. He succeeded Ian Foster who coached the side on 46 occasions from 2020 to 2023 inclusive for 32 wins (69.6%), 12 losses and two draws.

Sevu Reece scored the All Blacks first try of 2024. It was his 16th in his 24th test, and first against England.

Ardie Savea’s try was his 25th in his 82nd test, and second against England.

Damian McKenzie kicked six points to take his total in 48 tests for New Zealand to 174. While attempting his fifth kick at goal (a penalty) he was timed-out by the referee and consequently was not allowed to take the kick.

This is not without precedent. In the match between England and Samoa at Lille in last year’s Rugby World Cup, Owen Farrell of England, although successful in kicking a penalty, had his kick ruled out by the referee because he, Farrell, went over time.

TJ Perenara played his first test since last appearing in the drawn match (25-25) against England at Twickenham on 19 November 2022. This was his 81st test but just his 23rd start.

Three other players namely Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece and Patrick Tuipulotu had also not made an appearance during 2023 and Asafo Aumua had not played a test since 2021.

Maro Itoje scored his sixth try for England in his 83rd test match. It was his first try against New Zealand.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s try was his third in five tests and first against New Zealand.

Marcus Smith kicked five points and now has a total of 12 against the All Blacks. He has scored exactly 250 points in 36 test appearances for England.

Two England players made their test debut: Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleightholme.

Nika Amashukeli of Georgia was in charge of his third test involving the All Blacks. His previous two matches were both in 2022.