New Zealand produced a stunning performance which included five tries to crush an abysmal England effort by 44-12 in the second Test in Christchurch.
The All Blacks were superior in every phase of the game, scoring tries at will through Richard Kahui, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Sione Lauaki and Jimmy Cowan.
The English were always going to be under pressure in this match, regardless of the build-up to the Test. The drama of the past week regarding sexual assaults and midnight shenanigans would have interfered greatly with England’s preparations.
England seemed drained of any real energy for the challenge, and they succumbed to the impressive Kiwis even more meekly than they did last week.
New Zealand predictably opened the scoring through the boot of Dan Carter, who kicked an early penalty.
But of course England were out to prove a point following last week’s drubbing and the fiasco that followed them around this week.
The Poms contested well in the first ten minutes, with loose forward James Haskell and debutant wing Tom Varndell prominent.
however, it took New Zealand all of 12 minutes to unlock the English defence, when Dan Carter spotted a half-gap and slipped a tackle. The flyhalf raced on, with outside centre Richard Kahui, another debutant, in support. Carter drew the cover defence, and Kahui timed his switch to perfection. Carter then had the simple task of popping the pass infield to Kahui, who strolled in under the posts for the first Kiwi try.
Carter converted and the All Blacks led 10-0.
It seemed like things could go the same way as last week at this stage, especially after England survived another close shave when Toby Flood made a try-saving tackle on Richard Kahui, who was really taking to his first Test with some confidence.
England then went close after the All Blacks failed to deal decisively with an up-and-under. Tom Varndell got the ball in some space and sprinted for the line. But Kiwi fullback Leon MacDonald showed why he is rated so highly with a stunning tackle on the line.
Varndell looked unsure whether he had scored, and the television match official confirmed that MacDonald had indeed forced Varndell’s legs into touch.
England had found a little bit of momentum here, and had the added bonus of seeing two senior and influential All Blacks – Ali Williams and captain Richie McCaw – leave the field with injuries.
On another tour at another time, the Poms might have used this little window of opportunity to get back in the match.
But not this time.
New Zealand moved swiftly upfield in attack, and forced a scrum deep in England territory. A simple training ground move completely bamboozled the statuesque England backs, and Dan Carter sauntered through a massive hole to score unopposed.
The flyhalf converted his own try to push the score out to 20-0. This was not the real England, and it didn’t feel like a real Test match. It was hardly a contest.
A nightmare half was topped off for England when the talented Matthew Tait butchered a simple chance for a try by knocking on a loose ball in the process of diving over the try-line.
It seemed easier to score, but somehow Tait failed to do so after the All Blacks got sloppy in defending Tait’s swerving run and chip-kick.
It proved to be England’s last chance of the first half, and they went into the break 20 points down to their antipodean hosts.
Sometimes in sport, the whistle sounding the start of the second half represents a fresh start and a renewed effort. For England, it signalled more misery, courtesy of replacement Olly Barkley.
Kiwi No.8 Rodney So’oialo infringed in the ruck and England had a penalty bang in front of the posts. Yet Barkley contrived to miss the kick, leaving his team scoreless.
To rub salt in the wounds, New Zealand secured possession further upfield, and within a minute, had a penalty of their own. It was a more difficult chance than Barkley had, but there was never any doubt that Carter would miss.
He didn’t. New Zealand were now 23-0 ahead with more than half an hour left to play.
The floodgates were now truly creaking and cracking, but England scrumhalf Danny Care relieved his team of their duck when he reacted quickest after referee Jonathan Kaplan awarded England a penalty 10 metres from the All Black line. Care took the quick tap, and raced towards the corner flag. He was too quick for the covering So’oialo, and crashed over to open the scoring for the visitors.
This time Barkley converted, but there was a feeling of inevitability about the result of this game.
England’s try simply brought about a gear shift from the home side, and they scored a try of their own within ninety seconds of the restart.
It was another set-piece move from a scrum that undid England’s defence. Great hands from Sivivatu helped, and he unloaded to Nonu, who scored the five-pointer.
Once again Carter converted to put New Zealand in the lead by 30-7. The bleeding did not stop there for England.
They bled on the scoreboard and they bled on the field. Matthew Tait was smashed by Kahui, and the pair had to receive treatment for cuts after clashing heads. Tait looked really roughed up, and left the field seemingly bleeding from various cuts on his face.
The All Blacks were unrelenting, and crossed the try-line again, courtesy of replacement Sione Lauaki, to make it 37-7.
Tom Varndell got a consolation try for the Poms, but the contest was long since over. New Zealand kept up their intensity, and duly scored their fifth try through replacement scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan, before Kaplan put England out of their misery by signalling the end of the game.
England were thrashed once again, and deservedly so. They were outgunned, outfought and outmanoeuvered by a New Zealand team growing in stature everytime they take the field.
Man of the match: New Zealand outside centre Richard Kahui gets the nod for his spectacular debut. He scored a great try, tackled the living daylights out of the English, and still brought others into play. It was a day to remember for the young man.
Moment of the match: When Mathew Tait failed to score from a loose ball on the All Blacks try-line, one could sense that the Poms were in for a thrashing.
Villain of the match: England centre Mike Tindall looked slow and ineffective. He received a yellow card for cynical play, but it can be argued that he was just looking for a way off the field to escape the roasting he was getting from Richard Kahui.

Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Kahui, Carter, Nonu, Lauaki, Cowan
Cons: Carter 4, Donald
Pens: Carter 3

For England:
Tries: Care, Varndell
Con: Barkley

Yellow card: Mike Tindall (England, 61 – professional foul, killing the ball)