All Blacks undermine Robson's rebuilding

8:48am Monday 6th November 2006

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England 20, New Zealand 41.

THE cranes that towered over Twickenham's unfinished South Stand during yesterday's 41-20 defeat to New Zealand provided the most fitting of images for the state of English rugby just ten months before Andy Robinson's side begin the defence of their World Cup crown.

Just as Twickenham's rebuilding programme is incomplete, so Robinson's attempts to construct a side capable of competing in France are far from finished.

While yesterday's defeat to the side currently regarded as favourites to steal their crown was not as emphatic as some were predicting, it did little to quell the anxiety that continues to accompany England's preparations for their World Cup defence.

The introduction of three new caps into a previously malfunctioning backline could not completely address the lack of creativity that has now resulted in Robinson's side losing six internationals in a row.

Yes, England ran in three tries against one of the best defences in the world. But, no, they could not prevent a territorial advantage and a surfeit of possession being translated into a 21-point defeat.

Although England's forwards stood up to the most intensive of physical examinations from the All Blacks pack, the sight of New Zealand's attackers repeatedly breaking their opponents' line will have troubled Robinson so close to the start of World Cup year.

Twickenham's reconstruction will be complete by the time England kick off their campaign against the United States next September. But with more new caps expected during the remaining three autumn internationals, Robinson's rebuild might not be.

The introduction of debutants Paul Sackey, Anthony Allen and Shaun Perry suggested the England coach's number one priority was the injection of some much-needed imagination in attack.

So it must have been particularly galling for Robinson when an early display of invention went completely unrewarded. Taking on the foremost side in the world is difficult enough without the added handicap of a vacillating video referee.

Trailing to Dan Carter's third-minute penalty, awarded for an infringement in the ruck, two bruising bursts from Martin Corry had established an English platform within ten yards of the All Blacks' line.

Perry's rapid recycle sparked a slick passing move that culminated in Iain Balshaw popping a pass to the on-rushing Jamie Noon.

The Newcastle centre evaded the loitering Rico Gear and appeared to have rolled out of Ma'a Nonu's tackle before grounding the ball in the left-hand corner.

It looked like a try to the naked eye, but an inconclusive video replay forced television referee Christophe Berdos to answer in the negative. Sometimes, it seems, too much technology can turn a seemingly simple decision into a debate of labyrinthine complexity.

It must certainly have seemed that way to England's players, who spent the next 20 minutes attempting to regain the initiative that had been so cruelly wrenched from them in the television studio.

The usual suspects were to the fore - Lewis Moody busying himself with a succession of ground-making charges and Ben Kay taking the ball from in front of Charlie Hodgson's face as England's forwards carried the fight to their typically aggressive opponents. But an offside decision enabled Carter to extend New Zealand's lead to six points in the 17th minute.

That advantage became 13 midway through the first half, as a spell of incisive angled running from the All Blacks midfield finally reaped its reward.

Gear's 50-yard break split the English defence and, while prop Tony Woodcock was held up close to the line, skipper Richie McCaw was able to send Aaron Mauger over in the left-hand corner.

It would have been easy for the hosts to retreat into their shell at that stage but, to their credit, they continued to throw the ball around and gained a foothold in the game when Noon's luck finally changed for the better on the half-hour mark.

Allen's square pass fell beyond its intended recipient, Balshaw, but the ball bounced kindly for Noon, who duly steamed over from 15 yards. Without an All Black in spitting distance, even the French officials couldn't find an excuse to disallow that one.

But, while Allen's faulty radar did not cost England on that occasion, the centre was not so fortunate nine minutes later. Balshaw was again the intended recipient of his pass on the halfway line but, instead, a gleeful Joe Rokocoko collected the ball and ran in unopposed beneath the posts.

A third All Blacks try quickly followed, Carl Hayman crossing in the right-hand corner to crown a quickfire passing move that was assisted by some less-than-ferocious England tackling. But for all of New Zealand's attacking endeavour, it was difficult to claim that England deserved the 23-point deficit with which they were saddled at the interval.

There had certainly been little wrong with their set-pieces, and successive polished line-outs at the start of the second half laid the foundations for their second try.

Allen was involved again as the ball was transferred swiftly from right to left and, after Moody combined with George Chuter in a slick interchange of passing, Ben Cohen swooped to cross in the corner.

Hodgson's conversion made it 28-12, but the fly-half's inconsistent display was perhaps better summed up by a straightforward penalty miss shortly afterwards. The Sale half-back can claim to be Jonny Wilkinson's equal in certain aspects of his play but, sadly, metronomic kicking is not amongst them.

When it comes to fly-half play, Carter is a far worthier recipient of Wilkinson's crown, and the New Zealand No 10 provided another virtuoso demonstration of his skills to score his side's fourth try. Handing off Allen with something approaching disdain, the Canterbury schemer bullied his way over after a pass from McCaw.

The All Blacks display was hardly perfect - Mauger's dreadfully miscued kick allowed Perry to run in England's third score from inside his own half and Chris Masoe's sin-binning preceded a penalty from Hodgson - but by the time Carter kicked his fifth three-pointer to become this fixture's leading points scorer of all-time, the extent of the visitors' superiority was clear.

As, unfortunately, was the extent of the challenge that still faces Robinson.

ENGLAND: Balshaw, Sackey, Noon, Allen, Cohen, Hodgson, Perry (Richards 66mins); Sheridan, Chuter (Mears 75mins), White, Grewcock, Kay, Corry, Moody, Sanderson (Lund 60mins). Subs (not used): Turner, Jones, Goode, Van Gisbergen.

NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina, Gear (Sivivatu 72mins), Nonu, Mauger, Rokocoko, Carter, Kelleher (Ellis 68mins); Woodcock (Dermody 72mins), Mealamu, Hayman, Jack, Robinson, Thorne, McCaw, Masoe.

Subs (not used): Hore, Afoa, So'oialo, MacDonald.

Referee: Joel Jutge (France).