Kiwis keep Eden Park record

A RUSTY New Zealand needed a late try from Conrad Smith for a 2015 win in the first test against an under-strength England in Auckland yesterday, as they struggled to snuff out the challenge of a visiting side reduced to 14 men for most of the final 10 minutes.

Winger Marland Yarde’s yellow card in the 68th minute for a professional foul turned the match in New Zealand’s favour, with Aaron Cruden slotting his fifth penalty to give the All Blacks their first lead of the game.

Smith then scored a 78th minute try to give the All Blacks the victory that extended their winning streak at Eden Park to 32 games, and their current run of test victories to 15, though few Kiwi fans would have been left satisfied after such a scratchy opening performance in the three-test series.

“We expected England to be a very good side and that’s what we got,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.“We had to work for it but when you come off limited preparations you are going to be rusty and we were.

“Our handling at times was very poor, from our strike plays we let ourselves down, but we showed good mental fortitude to stay in the game. I think we controlled the second half but didn’t put them away because of our errors. Happy to take the win but clearly work to be done before next week.”

The tourists, who were written off during the week because several first-team players only arrived in the country on Wednesday following the England club final,

We expected England to be a very good side and that’s what we got

showed they would be a force at next year’s World Cup with their developing depth and all-round game.

Unlike England sides of the past, they were prepared to spread the ball wide with Manu Tuilagi, who tore the All Blacks to shreds two years ago at Twickenham, again the focal point of their attack, constantly threatening the line and making ground.

The visitors also controlled the tempo of the game in the first half and did not allow the All Blacks to develop any rhythm.

“We were probably half-a-yard off the pace in the first half,” All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.

“It took us 40 minutes to build into it and it was a lot better in the second half even though the scoreboard was pretty close.”

The scoring in the first half was restricted to three penalties each to England flyhalf Freddie Burns and Cruden.

The All Blacks upped the tempo in the second half and dominated territory but were again guilty of several errors that released any pressure they had built.

The match then ultimately turned on Yarde’s yellow card after he failed to roll away following a tackle on Brodie Retallick.

While replacement Danny Cipriani levelled the scores at 15-15 with little over five minutes remaining, Smith’s late try gave the hosts the breathing room they required.

The visitors, however, now head to next week’s second test in Dunedin with supreme confidence with a full squad to pick from.

“I’m very pleased with the guys,” England captain Chris Robshaw said. “We’re disappointed but it’s a three game series and ... we’re going to get better over the next few weeks.”— Reuters