England shouldn’t scare ABs

There should be little reason for Kieran Read and his All Blacks to suffer anxiety attacks following England’s win over South Africa in London yesterday.

Almost 10 hours after a second-string All Blacks side walloped Japan 69-31 in Tokyo, Read and a large contingent of top All Blacks, who had already been stationed in the English capital for several days, watched injuryravaged England squeak home with a controversial 12-11 win against the Springboks in London.

You couldn’t question England’s desire during the opening match of their ‘‘autumn series’’, but if they are to have any chance of gazumping the New Zealanders at HQ this weekend they will surely need to add energy and variety to their attack.

Co-captain Owen Farrell kicked four penalties for the victors, before surviving an almighty scare when Australian referee Angus Gardner, who consulted his TMO, deemed his high shot on Andre Esterhuizen in the final play of the game was not illegal.

No wonder first five-eighth Farrell let rip with a victory yell after the final whistle, his relief matched by his equally jubilant team-mates and their supporters in the 82,000-strong crowd; if that decision had gone against him it would have given Handre Pollard the chance to kick a matchwinning penalty.

All Blacks captain Read and his men will have looked on with a mixture of emotions, but fear was unlikely to be among them.

They might well be in foreign territory, but there is no chance of the All Blacks being ambushed at Twickenham this weekend.