Nathan Okell takes a look back over the last five games between England and New Zealand Kiwis
June 23, 2018
England 36 New Zealand 18
Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
• England fought back from 12-0 down.
• A crowd of 19,320 at the Mile High Stadium witnessed England off the pace in the opening quarter but finish the game in total control.
Chris Hill and Elliott Whitehead in defence mode against New Zealand in Denver
• The match was played in energy-sapping conditions due to the altitude.
• Elliott Whitehead scored two tries, with Jake Connor and Tommy Makinson also scoring on their debuts.
• James Graham appeared in his record-extending 40th appearance.
• Saints' Luke Thompson was included in the squad but did not make the match day 17 to make his debut.
• Former Wire Peta Hiku played in the centres for New Zealand.
England: Stefan Ratchford; Jermaine McGillvary, John Bateman, Mark Percival, Ryan Hall; Jonny Lomax, Gareth Widdop; Chris Hill, James Roby, James Graham, Sam Burgess, Elliott Whitehead, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: Jake Connor, Tom Burgess, Tommy Makinson, Scott Taylor.
Tries: Hall, Whitehead (2), Connor, Makinson, Bateman
Goals: Widdop (6)
October 29, 2016
England 16-17 New Zealand 17
Four Nations, John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
• Shaun Johnson scored the winning drop-goal with 14 minutes remaining for the then-defending Four Nations champions, three years after the scrum-half scored a last-gasp try to beat England in the 2013 World Cup semi-final at Wembley.
• Sell-out attendance in Huddersfield.
Jonny Lomax looks for a way through in Huddersfield. Picture: Mike Boden
• England scored a brilliant try through Ryan Hall after a sublime over the head flick pass from Gareth Widdop.
• Made it difficult for England to qualify for the final, extending their long wait for a major tournament victory - a sequence that stretches back to Great Britain's World Cup victory in 1972.
• The match was Sam Burgess's first for England since his return from rugby union and his debut as captain
• It was also the first time Australian Wayne Bennett had coached England in a competitive fixture after the previous Saturday's warm-up win over France.
England: Jonny Lomax; Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, Dan Sarginson, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Luke Gale; Chris Hill, Josh Hodgson, James Graham, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman, Sam Burgess. Subs: Daryl Clark, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper.
Tries: McGillvary, Hall
Goals: Widdop (4)
November 14, 2015
England 20-14 New Zealand 14
Third Test, DW Stadium, Wigan
• Decisive Test which saw England win the series 2-1.
• New Zealand were the world’s top ranked team at that time.
• England’s first series victory over New Zealand since 2007.
• England took an 8-0 lead before the Kiwis brought it back to 8-6. England scored twice to take a 20-6 lead, with New Zealand adding two tries to threaten but not complete the comeback.
• The match was England coach Steve McNamara's last before his contract expired, with Wayne Bennett coming in to replace him.
• Going into the contest, McNamara’s England had a record of just two victories from 11 matches against Australia and New Zealand.
• Future Wire Peta Hiku played as half-back for New Zealand.
England: Zak Hardaker; Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, John Bateman, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Matty Smith (playing for Wigan at that time); James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Chris Hill, Elliot Whitehead, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: James Roby, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper, Brett Ferres.
Tries: Whitehead (2), O’Loughlin
Goals: Widdop (4)
November 7, 2015
England 2 New Zealand 9
Second Test, Olympic Stadium, London
• Game two of the three game series.
• England took an early 2-0 lead in front of 44,393 people in London, but failed to add to that tally
• The match was tied 2-2 at the break, but Shaun Kenny-Dowall touched down in the corner shortly after the restart.
• After the video referee had ruled out a try for both teams, Jordan Kahu slotted a decisive late drop-goal to seal the win.
• It was the first rugby league match at the Olympic Stadium.
• Future Wire Peta Hiku played as half-back for New Zealand.
England: Zak Hardaker; Joe Burgess, John Bateman, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, George Williams; James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Chris Hill, Elliott Whitehead, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: James Roby, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper, Brett Ferres.
Goal: Widdop
November 1, 2015
England 26 New Zealand 12
First Test, KCOM Stadium, Hull
• First game of the three game Test series.
• England recovered from being 10-0 down to secure a first victory over New Zealand since 2011.
• Brett Ferres scored two tries on the back of his hat-trick against France in a warm-up game a week earlier.
• Future Wire Peta Hiku played as half-back and put Tohu Harris through a gap to score the opening try.
England: Zak Hardaker; Joe Burgess, John Bateman, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, George Williams; James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Chris Hill, Elliott Whitehead, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: James Roby, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper (Playing for St George at that time), Brett Ferres.
Tries: Hodgson, Ferres (2), O’Loughlin
Goals: Widdop (5).
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