2018 Second Test England V New Zealand: Teams and Game Day

[Finchy]

Check it now! The times are the same.

Thanks for the update GE, much appreciated

[dubby]

I thought Ireland would defeat France, the wolfhounds were good last year

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[The Greenhouse]

Welcome to our coverage of the second Test between England and the New Zealand Kiwis at Anfield, Liverpool. Jordan Rapana lines up for the Kiwis, but Joe Tapine has missed the top 17. Whitehead, Bateman and Hodgson are all in the starting line up for England. Full teams:


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[The Greenhouse]

Teams out on the field now. Straight into the national anthems. Not a bad crowd at Anfield, but upper tiers unoccupied. Lower tiers are quite full. However, these two teams deserve a better crowd. It's cloudy grey day in Liverpool, very good atmosphere. Now for the haka. Gerard Sutton is the referee.

England kick off, we are underway!

[The Greenhouse]

1st min Kiwis make an early error, so they are under the pump immediately. However, New Zealand respond well in defence and take England out over the sideline.

[The Greenhouse]

5th min New Zealand make a break, but it is called back for a late high shot on half Sam Tomkins. England go for the penalty goal.

PENALTY GOAL ENGLAND to Jake Connor.

England 2-0

[The Greenhouse]

8th min There's a bit of a dust up and Josh Hodgson and Jordan Rapana get involved in the push and shove.

[The Greenhouse]

9th min TRY NEW ZEALAND to Dallin Watene Zelezniak. It's off the back of a penalty, but it's a bit too easy too. Small gap between Tomkins and Gildart and he shows great acceleration to glide straight through. Shaun Johnson converts from out wide.

New Zealand 6-2

[The Greenhouse]

12th min Jordan Rapana reaches out and almost scores in the corner, but he's short and he knocks on. He has a bit of a shoulder problem and he's wincing... but he now seems OK.

[The Greenhouse]

The Kiwis are really playing some physical football and they look the most threatening in attack at present. They're also benefiting from some penalties.

[The Greenhouse]

15th min Horrible end to that set from England, they don't get a clear kick away... and New Zealand charge down the ball and they're forced back to their goal line. Now Gildart knocks on, giving the Kiwis a scrum feed 40m out.

[The Greenhouse]

18th min Jordan Rapana gets over the line, but he doesn't ground it. It is held up by Tommy Makinson. NO TRY. The set ends with another try saver from Makinson... and New Zealand have dominated the first 20 minutes.

[The Greenhouse]

The Kiwis have had 54 per cent possession in the first 20 minutes.

[The Greenhouse]

22nd min Gerard Sutton gives the Kiwis a penalty in the red zone, with England shouldering a chaser off the ball, protecting Makinson who was taking the bomb. But the Kiwis cannot take advantage, with an early dropped ball.

[The Greenhouse]

24th min Josh Hodgson draws a penalty in the Kiwis red zone... but now England can't take advantage. They run wide and there's a wild offload to avoid being taken over the touchline, and the Kiwis swoop on the ball.

[The Greenhouse]

26th min Terrific kick for the line from Josh Hodgson. Makes 50 metres and it is a Kiwi scrum feed 10m out from their own goal line.

[The Greenhouse]

New Zealand is winning the battle for territory and possession. Great kicking game from Shaun Johnson. Wayne Bennett is not looking at all impressed with the England performance.

[The Greenhouse]

32nd min Gildart is having a horror match. Another dropped ball from him. England are not looking at all composed, in fact they look a bit rattled, even when in possession.

[The Greenhouse]

35th min Another error from Gildart. England has five errors to the Kiwis' four, but England have thrown away every attacking opportunity they have had.

[The Greenhouse]

37th min George Burgess over the line for England, but clearly held up.

[The Greenhouse]

37th min England force a line drop out. It's the first time they've looked a bit dangerous in the red zone.

[The Greenhouse]

38th min TRY ENGLAND to Tommy Makinson in the corner. Great work from Hodgson and Williams in the lead up! Great passing. Jake Connor fails to convert from the sideline.

England 6
New Zealand Kiwis 6

HALF TIME

[luffraider]

How many people does the stadium hold? Looks only half full

[luffraider]

England look much better when Hodgson roaming in middle as ball player lock type

[The Greenhouse]

Teams are back on the field for the second half. Kiwis kick off and we are back underway.

[The Greenhouse]

How many people does the stadium hold? Looks only half full

The capacity of Anfield is 54,074.

[The Greenhouse]

Whitehead and Hodgson in the top three tacklers for England in the first half.

1. Elliott Whitehead 23
3. Josh Hodgson 21

[The Greenhouse]

45th min TRY NEW ZEALAND to Ken Maumalo in the corner. It is set up by a huge break from Watene Zelezniak. Great try for the Kiwis. Shaun Johnson converts from the sideline. Straight as a die.

New Zealand 12-6

[The Greenhouse]

49th min John Bateman very unhappy with a call of strip against England. Rightly so. Gives the Kiwis another shot in the red zone.

[The Greenhouse]

50th min PENALTY GOAL NEW ZEALAND to Shaun Johnson.

New Zealand 14
England 6

[The Greenhouse]

52nd Great dummy half run from Hodgson. Now Jordan Rapana just able to defuse the bomb on the last. New Zealand look in control in this game. Too many errors and penalties conceded from England, and they don't look like they have any spring in their step in attack.

[The Greenhouse]

55th min The game erupts after a late shot on the England kicker. They call play on, but half the teams are 30 metres down field. It eventually goes back to the penalty to England.

[The Greenhouse]

56th min England looking disorganised in attack in the red zone, going backwards... and luckily Manu knocks on a very loose pass.

[The Greenhouse]

57th min TRY ENGLAND to Tommy Makinson. What a try! Finally England get their act together in attack, stunning passing, incredible quick hands from Jake Connor for the try assist. No conversion Connor.

New Zealand 14
England 10

[The Greenhouse]

59th min Finally the crowd wakes up and is chanting "England". Jordan Rapana makes an error in goal... fails to take a bomb, when it appeared he had it well covered. Line drop out forced on the Kiwis.