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2019 All Blacks Eliminated From World Cup

30th, After Demolition Job By England

October

| ngland produced one of
their greatest-ever dis-
EXAMINER World Cup final with a 19-7 vic-
Eplays to storm into the
tory over New Zealand that
reduced the reigning champions
IRISH to a rabble.
From the moment Manu
Tuilagi crossed after 97 sec-
onds an extraordinary match
beckoned and the final score-
line did little justice to the
domination of Eddie Jones’
men, who were superior in
every single facet of the game.
New Zealand had won their
previous 18 World Cup match-
es dating back to 2007 but at
International Stadium
Yokohama they were flattened
by a juggernaut led by the
unstoppable Maro Itoje.
England will face either
South Africa or Wales in next
Saturday’s final and having
crushed the odds-on favorites
to win the Webb Ellis Trophy, to give up the kicking duties to Up front they were being Disaster struck for England A sign of New Zealand’s
they will be expected to repeat fly-half George Ford who pro- pummeled as Courtney Lawes at the ensuing line-out as Jamie frustration came when Sam
their solitary triumph of 2003. ceeded to land four penalties to pinched their line-out ball and George missed Itoje complete- Whitelock shoved Farrell in
Everywhere across the pitch match his brilliance as ringmas- Itoje plundered a maul ly with his throw, instead find- the head, reversing a penalty
they won significant battles, ter. turnover. ing Ardie Savea who scored and when Ford sent his fourth
Itoje supported by brilliant Casting shadows over the England thought they were one of the easiest tries of his kick between the uprights their
flankers Tom Curry and Sam win were injuries to wing over in the 24th minute but life. World Cup was over.
Underhill who carried the fight Jonny May and Kyle Sinckler were pulled back for crossing The response from the 2003 England finished with their
to feared opponents right from that place them in doubt for and in response the All Blacks champions was emphatic as bench on the pitch yet still
the start. the final at the same venue, stepped up a gear, Brodie they blitzed their way down- steamrollering the disillu-
New Zealand’s selection of while Farrell will surely be Retallick forcing a gap that field, winning a penalty for sioned black shirts as they
lock Scott Barrett as an addi- looked at closely. would have resulted in a try Ford to send between the sealed their fourth appearance
tional line-out jumper at six England faced the arrow but for a poor final pass. uprights. in the World Cup final. C
backfired as they were demol- head formation of the Haka A scrum penalty was the
ished at the set-piece to the with a V-shape and the act of prelude to another spell of
point that Sam Cane, a recog- defiance – led by a pumped-up English domination that con-
nized flanker, was brought on Joe Marler – was followed by tinued with two breakdown
at half-time. an extraordinary start that saw penalties as New Zealand
The withdrawal of Barrett them cross almost immediate- struggled to escape the vice-
was a stark admission by Steve ly. like grip of the underdogs.
Hansen that his tactics were Elliot Daly launched the Farrell’s obvious discomfort
misjudged but by the time attack with a dart down the meant Ford kicked a penalty to
Cane arrived it was too late, right and several phases later, extend the lead to 10-0 at half-
the ascendancy at the break- after clever off-loads by time and there was no let-up as
down of Curry and Underhill Courtney Lawes and Sinckler, England exploded out of the
was complete. a huge hole had opened up in blocks for the second-half.
It is hard to recall the All the All Blacks defense to enable A second try was disallowed
Blacks ever being made to look Tuilagi to grab and score. for the ball being moved for-
so ordinary as they searched in England might have had a ward at a maul just before Ben
vain for the inspiration that second shortly after when Youngs slipped through a gap,
would save them from disaster Tuilagi read an attack to begin but a Ford penalty at least
and the fightback never came. a counter that ended when rewarded yet another visit to
Midway through the first- May was unable to find Farrell the 22.
half Owen Farrell began limp- with the line beckoning. May and Sinckler had
ing and despite being beckoned The opening quarter was limped off by now, victims of
for an examination by the team played at breakneck speed with the punishing intensity, and
doctor, he battled on and even the rivals taking it in turns to suddenly New Zealand upped
sprinted out for the second- stage blistering attacks, but the tempo with Sevu Reece
half. overall New Zealand were only being kept out by a dou-
Having converted Tuilagi’s struggling to hold back the ble tackle by Henry Slade and
try, Farrell’s only sacrifice was white tide. Tuilagi.