STU BLEW IT, ROARS LANC
England coach rues missed chances in NZ
STUART LANCASTER voiced his frustration after England opened their series against New Zealand with an agonising 20- 15 defeat at Eden Park.
Only a 78th- minute try from Conrad Smith gave the All Blacks a 15th successive Test victory and protected their 20- year triumphant run at their Auckland stronghold.
Lancaster accepted that England contributed to their own downfall with unforced errors and a lack of composure in the closing stages of a match that was there for the taking.
“There’s frustration at having not got across the line despite having done so much good work to achieve a draw or potentially even a win,” the head coach said.
“We created lots of opportunities. We made line breaks, broke the gainline. Our set piece was good, but it’s fine margins. The over- riding emotion in the changing room is frustration. What we must do as a coaching team is bottle that and turn it into a positive mindset.
“It definitely feels like we missed a chance. At 15- 15 it’s all about territory and how you manage and close out the game.
“We had opportunities to clear our line a bit, play in their half and put pressure on them.
“In tight games at 15- 15 it’s a drop goal or penalty that wins it. They got the penalty, tapped it and won it.
“We’re desperately disappointed having fought so hard to be in the game for so long. It’s an 80- minute game and credit to them for closing it out. It was a tremendous effort and it’s tough to not come away with anything.”
Much of a desperately tight match was a battle of the boot, with the outstanding Freddie Burns and Aaron Cruden exchanging penalties. It was not until the 71st minute that New Zealand were able to take the lead for the first time.
Scruff
England threatened the line on several occasions and, despite being hamstrung by a lengthy injury list and the absence of their Premiership finalists, were the equal of the world champions.
The performance bodes well for the remainder of the series, which continues in Dunedin next Saturday and concludes in Hamilton seven days later.
Arguably the key moment of the game was Cruden’s brave decision to spurn a shot at goal for a tap penalty that led to Smith’s try.
“It was one of those games where we had to take the match by the scruff of the neck,” said All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.
“There were two teams going at it hammer and tongs and Cruden did something different and that changed the game. I thought ‘ good on you son’.
“Now I hope you’ll see what we’ve known all along and that’s what a good team England are.”