IT’S V FOR England’s formation at the haka set the tone – defiant and fearless
JUST how much the England V formation messed with New Zealand minds we’ll never know – but we know the outcome.
The supermen were reduced to normal men in Yokohama as Owen Farrell’s heroes borrowed their capes and took English rugby soaring to another level on an unforgettable night.
England knocked the All Blacks out of their thoroughbred stride with their tackling as the cool kids of world rugby lost the plot to leave Billy Vunipola celebrating with brother- in- arms Joe Marler at the final whistle (below).
But the seeds of a famous victory were sown before a ball was even kicked.
The haka is such a part of All Blacks mythology that to disturb it is to play with fire.
When Wales performed a stare- out at the haka in
Cardiff in 2008, refusing to yield, they sent waves of electricity around the
Millennium
Stadium.
Unfortunately, that electricity kickstarted the
All Blacks into a ferocious start which blew Wales away.
England’s gamble paid off.
The reverse arrow formation with captain Owen Farrell at its point, ith hands d on hi hips, smirking, i ki was something new for the Kiwis. Through their eyeline, with Marler encroaching to the right and Billy Vunipola to the left, it must have felt like they were being corralled.
Referee Nigel Owens asked them to retreat behind the halfway line, as is the protocol. Marler was going nowhere. Mini-win to England. “We didn’t want to just stand there and let them come to us,”
said Farrell. their th i refusal f lt to f face th the h haka k i in a subservient line.
England were lifted to new heights and 76 seconds after a trick kick-off and some thunderous ball-carrying, Manu Tuilagi was over for a statement try.
The sun had not yet set on snowcapped Mount Fuji in the far distance and England were ahead.
Glory
beat b t them th at tt Twickenham, ik h hdn had New Zealand gone scoreless throughout the opening 40 minutes of a match.
They would pull themselves together, as everyone expected.
But under fire from all angles from England’s blitz defence, New Zealand crumbled rather than created.
Even after the generous donation of a lineout overthrow try for Ardie Savea, it was England immediately on the offensive once again. Eddie Jones’ men were simply relentless.
The rattled All Blacks were pressured into mistake after mistake – and George Ford’s right boot did the rest.
As the clock ticked down, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot swept around Yokohama.
When the final gong was struck and both exhausted teams sank to their knees, the reality dawned.
The champions are out, England march on.
Rugby union will have a new emperor parading in Japan next weekend.