Wow, what an unbelievable game that was for us. I just feel so proud seeing the boys fight back from being so far behind early on. Beating New Zealand doesn’t happen often, so you really got to treasure a win like this one.
Our coach, Steve Borthwick, he said we was desperate for a big victory to show everyone our progress. To be honest, the atmosphere at Twickenham just had this special feeling even before it all started. I overheard a former legend talking in the car park, and they had a feeling something good was going to happen for England today.
Seeing the team face the haka in that semi-circle, it really showed we wasn’t going to be intimidated nobody. George Ford, his performance were absolutely crucial with those drop goals. Our coach also mentioned he thinks Ford will one day assume the head coach mantle himself, which is a real interesting thought for the future.
Sealing the win with tries from Fraser Dingwall and Tom Roebuck in the second half, it just brought the whole crowd to life. This New Zealand team, they are consistently a top team, so a win should be treasured by all. It shows that we can compete with the very best out there.
The journey for this team has been long since the last World Cup. For me, this victory is a massive boost for everyone involved. We dominated that second half, and each and every player brought their all to the contest. Now we just need to keep building from here, don’t we.
Honestly, the amount of work what has gone on behind the scenes these past months, it’s finally showing on the pitch for everyone to see. Seeing the scoreboard tick over like that, it felt like a weight lifting off the whole squad’s shoulders, truly.
And Owen Farrell, his leadership in the heat of the battle, it were a calming presence for the younger lads out there. To be stood so close to the All Blacks during their challenge, it takes a certain kind of nerve which I think we displayed in abundance.
From a tactical view, the way we adapted after those first twenty minutes were a real coaching masterclass in my opinion. You don’t come back from a deficit like that without a solid plan and the boys believing in it completely.
A lot of people maybe don’t realize how important the set piece work was, providing a platform so the backs could do their thing later on. Each of the forward’s effort in the scrum, it was the foundation for everything good that followed after.
I remember thinking how the light was fading over the stadium, that grey November sky just made the colours pop even more. The roar from the crowd after Tom Roebuck’s try, it’s a sound that will stay with me for a long, long time.
There was a moment just before half-time where the momentum felt like it genuinely shifted onto our side for good. The energy in the stadium changed, you could feel the belief spreading from the stands right down onto the field itself.
Even my dad, who’s seen decades of England teams, he said he hadn’t felt this optimistic since the old days. For a team still building, that connection with the fans is what it’s all about, making them believe again.
Regarding New Zealand, despite them being not quite the same force of old, their record this autumn speaks for itself. To overcome a team of their pedigree, it requires a performance that is nearly perfect in its application.
Looking forward, the road ahead for us is surely filled with more challenges, but this is a marker we have laid down. It’s a result which the whole group can use as a reference point for what we are capable of achieving together.
In the end, it’s days like these why you put in all the hard work during the rain-soaked training sessions. The feeling at the final whistle, it makes all the sacrifice worth it for players and supporters alike.
