England had hoped that they would accelerate in the second half with a bench loaded with six British and Irish Lions. Instead, the nitro boost they needed came from those already on the pitch – and some Kiwi indiscipline.
New Zealand hooker Taylor’s cynical play of the ball on the ground, knocking it out of the grasp of Smith in the first minute of the second half, gave England the impetus to hit the front.
A man up, England marched down the pitch, scrum-half Alex Mitchell sniped and Underhill ploughed over the final metre. Ford’s conversion continued England’s streak, moving them 18-12 clear.
Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes, the props picked to start ahead of Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, powered through their opposite numbers to earn a penalty.
Ford then scampered under the posts in the final minute of England’s powerplay, only for the score to be wiped off for a marginal offside by Roebuck.
England did not have to wait long, though.
Four minutes later a pre-planned move clicked perfectly. Off quick line-out ball, Lawrence looked set to thunder into contact.
Instead, as the New Zealand defence braced for impact, he deftly slipped the ball to Dingwall to race in for his second Test try.
With England 25-12 up, Genge, Stuart, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock came off the bench.
Initially England wobbled after their arrival, with Jordan going over and New Zealand drawing back to within six points.
But their energy and quality told, and the team’s composure returned.
Ford, superb throughout, kicked a penalty to push England nine clear, while Pollock got his toe to a loose ball before Damian McKenzie and Roebuck scooped up and slid in.
England play Argentina next weekend, hunting an 11th straight win, an autumn clean sweep and a 2025 in which their only defeat came in their first game against Ireland in February.
