England’s mission on the eve of this Test series was to update a few perceptions in New Zealand. They wanted the All Blacks “to know who we are” and to rid themselves of a shedload of historical baggage. On a rousing night in Auckland they again earned their opponents’s respect but could not quite become the first side in 30 years to storm their hosts’ supposedly impregnable fortress.
There will be other days, not least when New Zealand come to Twickenham this November. But for the second week running they were unable to cling on to a promising lead, failing to apply the coup de grace from 17-13 ahead as the All Blacks completed a 2-0 series win to extend England’s winless record in New Zealand since 2003.
