New Zealand v England: Third Test - Live coverage - The Independent

New Zealand v England: Third Test


Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's third and final Test between New Zealand and England at the Waikato Stadium. I'm Jack de Menezes and I'll keep you up to date with the latest news from New Zealand, where England will be looking to clinch a first Test victory over the All Blacks in their own back yard for 11 years.

  • Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the third Test between New Zealand and England at the Waikato Stadium.
    6/21/2014 6:49:47 AM
  • Good morning! Thanks for joining me on this sunny Saturday morning for another crunch clash between New Zealand and England. Hopefully we'll be treated to another thriller, having seen the All Blacks clinch the Series via a 20-15 first Test victory and a 28-27 win in the second. Can England win the final Test?
    6/21/2014 7:03:12 AM
  • Here's how they line-up:
    New Zealand: Ben Smith, Corey Jane, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Tony Woodcock, Dan Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read. 
    Replacements: Kevin Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Beuden Barrett, Ryan Crotty.
    England: Mike Brown; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Eastmond, Marland Yarde; Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson; Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury; Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.
    Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Danny Cipriani, Luther Burrell
    6/21/2014 7:14:46 AM
  • The IRB world player of the year Kieran Read returns from injury today, meaning there's a reshuffle in the All Blacks back-row:

    Head coach Steve Hansen has thrown the fit-again number eight into the starting line-up, as New Zealand bid to complete a series whitewash against Stuart Lancaster's side. Jerome Kaino moves to blindside flanker to accommodate Read - but keeps his place in the starting XV ahead of Liam Messam, who drops to the bench.

    Read more on the New Zealand team news here.
    6/21/2014 7:17:51 AM
  • For England, Kyle Eastmond and Manu Tuilagi are reunited at centre:
    Stuart Lancaster has been plotting his way towards next year’s home World Cup since the summer of 2012, but the great conundrum of English rugby – otherwise known as the red rose midfield – remains unsolved. The national coach has dropped both of his Six Nations centres, Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell, for this weekend’s last hurrah against the All Blacks in Hamilton and if the fresh combination of Kyle Eastmond and Manu Tuilagi click together as readily as they did in Auckland a dozen days ago, it will inevitably lead to a major reassessment of the available options.
    Read more of Chris Hewett's assessment of the England side here.
    6/21/2014 7:20:51 AM
  • Just 10 minutes to go until kick-off, but we'll have the anthems and the Haka first. The teams are preparing to make their way on to the pitch, and it looks like another sell-out crowd in Hamilton.
    6/21/2014 7:26:16 AM
  • Last second thoughts...

    6/21/2014 7:27:20 AM
  • England are already out, and here come the All Blacks led by McCaw to a roar from the home crowd. Their attempting to equal a world record today of 17 straight wins. The last time they came this close, England beat them. Can they go one better?
    6/21/2014 7:28:54 AM
  • Anthems over, it's time for the main action of the night. no, not the match, but the Haka!
    6/21/2014 7:32:08 AM
  • Replacement Liam Messam leads the Haka once again, and again it's the version they chose before the second Test, which they won by a single point. Will we get the same outcome? Personally I fancy England for this one.
    6/21/2014 7:34:17 AM
  • Here we go. Burns to get us underway for the final time this summer...
    6/21/2014 7:35:29 AM
  • 1 mins: The match is underway!
    6/21/2014 7:35:46 AM
  • 1 mins: Oh dear, can I take back my prediction? Burns' kick-off doesn't make the 10m and New Zealand have a scrum on halfway.
    6/21/2014 7:36:24 AM
  • 1 mins: That's better though. It's sloppy work from Read at the vase of the scrum and Youngs snags the big man. England pile into the ruck and win the penalty. Burns will go for goal, and it's worth noting England have taken the lead in both matches so far.
    6/21/2014 7:37:25 AM
  • 6/21/2014 7:37:29 AM
  • 3 mins: It's wide left, and New Zealand then send the ball way back into the 22m. Brown kicks the ball straight out, and he tipped it back into his 22 before finding touch. Chance for New Zealand here...
    6/21/2014 7:39:21 AM
  • 4 mins: TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
    6/21/2014 7:39:39 AM
  • 4 mins: England are caught defending extremely narrow from the line-out, and when Jane sweeps up the lose ball he spreads the ball wide. It comes to try-machine Julian Savea, who crosses over in the corner unopposed for his 21st try in 22 Tests. Incredible start for the All Blacks, awful for England.
    6/21/2014 7:41:08 AM
  • 6 mins: The heavens have opened in Waikato, and Cruden hits the post from the conversion. At the restart, Smith kicks the ball straight in to touch, and from the resulting play England win a penalty as the scrum-half is caught offside. Burns to go for goal.
    6/21/2014 7:42:51 AM
  • 7 mins: It's straight and good, and England are off the mark. 5-3.
    6/21/2014 7:43:15 AM
  • 8 mins: TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
    6/21/2014 7:43:58 AM
  • 8 mins: Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. Julian Savea is in again for his second in four minutes. Eastmond gets sucked in and Cruden breaks. He spreads the ball wide with a long pass, that Savea picks up off the floor and cuts inside Ashton and Yarde to score. Cruden converts from the left. 12-3. Ominous signs.
    6/21/2014 7:45:24 AM
  • Worrying signs ahead...

    6/21/2014 7:46:53 AM
  • 13 mins: There's a lull in proceedings at the first scrum, but eventually Marler is penalised for his binding. Cruden kicks to touch just outside the 22m line. Can England finally deal with a lineout?
    6/21/2014 7:48:55 AM
  • 14 mins: It should be a hat-trick for Savea, as he cantered in unopposed once again. But the final pass from Smith to the unstoppable wing is a mile forward and the score is chalked off. We'll have to check, but that could have been the quickest hat-trick in Test rugby had he scored.
    6/21/2014 7:50:26 AM
  • 16 mins: England are massively under pressure, and they don't appear able to cope. They lose their own lineout, and Kaino and McCaw instantly make ground in to the 22m They win a penalty at the ruck, and Cruden duly slots it between the sticks to extend the lead. 15-3
    6/21/2014 7:53:41 AM
  • 19 mins: This time McCaw comes round offside straight in front of referee Jerome Garces, and he gives England the penalty as a result. A chance for Burns to reduce the gap, but there aren't many signs of life from England right now.
    6/21/2014 7:55:36 AM
  • 20 mins: It's good, and England double their points tally. 15-6.
    6/21/2014 7:56:06 AM
  • 20 mins: Vunipola's in trouble here, as he catches Aaron Cruden very high. Garces puts his arm straight up and the Number 8 is off for 10 minutes. The replay shows it's not actually as bad as it looked, but that's exactly what England didn't need.
    6/21/2014 7:57:41 AM
  • 22 mins: Quick thinking from Coles sees him burst down the blindside from the lineout, and his pass inside hits Ashton and bounces in to touch on the 5m line. Launchbury has gone off injured and Attwood has come on. From the resulting lineout, it's not straight and England have a scrum with Tuiliagi at blindside flanker. A third position on this tour for the centre.
    6/21/2014 8:00:09 AM
  • 24 mins: Ashton shows signs that he can defend as he steals the ball superbly in the tackle. Brown kicks clear and finds touch well, but Smith goes quickly and his kick is equally as good. Brown is caught isolated when he should kick it clear, and New Zealand counter quickly. They sweep left after stealing the ball and Fekitoa breaks through the line, but England are in quickly and win the penalty, much to their relief.
    6/21/2014 8:02:31 AM
  • 26 mins: Burns makes a big error as he kicks straight in to touch, meaning the All Blacks have possession on England's 10m line. Launchbury is preparing to come back on, so maybe it was a concussion check. TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
    6/21/2014 8:04:06 AM
  • 27 mins: From nowhere, New Zealand look to have a third. The TMO is checking for a forward pass. Jane easily sidesteps Yarde as if he's not there, and he feeds Aaron Smith who, despite Tuilagi's best attempts, slides over the line to extend the lead. Garces confirms the try and Cruden adds the extras. 22-6. Yikes.
    6/21/2014 8:06:19 AM
  • 29 mins: Launchbury is back on and yes, it was for a concussion test. England just haven't turned up yet, but at least Brown shows a bit of life as he dances past Ben Smith.
    6/21/2014 8:07:59 AM
  • Happy Kiwis everywhere...
    Optimistic...

    6/21/2014 8:09:41 AM
  • 31 mins: Youngs finds touch well from inside his own 22m, and Vunipola by my estimates should be back on now, but he isn't. New Zealand are attacking again with England still at 14, and they're going through the phases with a number of pick-and-goes. Eastmond breaks through and snatches the ball, but the penalty is awarded for Robshaw diving over. Vunipola is back on, and the All Blacks decide to have some fun as they choose a scrum from the penalty.
    6/21/2014 8:11:49 AM
  • 34 mins: New Zealand come left through Fekitoa, but Launchbury gets his hands on the ball after good work from Lawes and Youngs kicks away to relieve the pressure for now.
    6/21/2014 8:12:55 AM
  • 35 mins: TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
    6/21/2014 8:13:13 AM
  • 35 mins: Ben Smith beats Burns before selling Yarde the dummy, and he charges towards the line before popping up to his namesake Aaron to cross for his second try. Cruden converts, it's 29-6, and they might as well call it off now.
    6/21/2014 8:14:32 AM
  • 36 mins: The crowd are loving this, as Woodcock hits Vunipola hard and dislodges the ball. Ben Smith then kicks over a day-dreaming Tuilagi to find touch, and New Zealand win the ball from the lineout. This is painful viewing. Kaino goes off his feet though and England go quick from the penalty.
    6/21/2014 8:16:40 AM
  • 38 mins: Youngs taps quickly and feeds Ashton, who sprints up the wing and chips ahead. Smith picks it up and runs away from Ashton before going through the hands, but the All Blacks knock on at the ruck around halfway.
    6/21/2014 8:17:37 AM
  • 40 mins: England finally keep some ball in hand - it's taken 39 minutes - but when Youngs fires a high ball towards Marler it's knocked on.
    6/21/2014 8:19:02 AM
  • 40 mins: Smith kicks it out and that's half-time. At least New Zealand can't score anymore points for the next 10 minutes.
    6/21/2014 8:19:57 AM

  • Savea crosses for his second try 


    6/21/2014 8:25:05 AM
  • Half-time: I haven't seen a half of rugby from an England side that was that bad for many years. The defending was even worse than the Sin Nations decider loss to Wales last year. The tackles are all over the place, and New Zealand are simply spinning the ball wide and breaking free. Something needs to change, but I feel the only option to limit the damage would be an early flight home.
    6/21/2014 8:26:50 AM
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