TWICKENHAM — Whichever way you wish to cut this two-point defeat , England need to start closing these big matches out as wins much more often – and certainly when they are playing on home turf – if they want to be contenders for trophies and not stuck where they are right now, ranked fifth in the world. Last time England were here in March, a drop goal by Marcus Smith nicked a victory over Ireland, amid joyous scenes. But Steve Borthwick’s men couldn’t pull off another great escape, as they faded from holding an eight-point lead going into the final quarter.
They gave New Zealand “a window”, as Borthwick put it afterwards, and with the All Blacks wing Mark Tele’a showing himself the best finisher on the pitch the visitors gladly climbed through it. You could boil England’s loss down to the last minute, and a filthy head-height pass from Harry Randall to George Ford when the replacement fly-half was in the pocket and aiming to land a drop goal for a famous first home win over the All Blacks since 2012. Read Next Smith's role, 'the blitz' and 5 other things England have to prove this autumn Ford had to reach for the pass and as he was rushed by the All Blacks he pushed the kick wide, having already hit a post with a pressure penalty two minutes befrehand.
Maybe Ford wasn’t at his sharpest after a few weeks out injured. But we must take a wider view and regret the way England lurched from a winning position into one that is bound to chip away again at their .
