Superstar Beauden Barrett came off the bench and inspired an All Blacks’ 24-17 comeback win over England at Eden Park tonight.
The hosts were trailing by four points before the two-time world player of the year entered the game and quickly set up winger Mark Tele’a to score his second try of the night, breaking English resistance.
England had threatened to become the first side to win at Eden Park in 30 years after excellent tries by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman handed them a slender 14-13 lead at halftime.
The Scott Robertson-coached Kiwis struggled to wrest back momentum and Marcus Smith extended England’s lead with a penalty before Barrett’s arrival on the pitch.
The fullback composedly steadied the New Zealand team, first running an excellent line against England’s scramble defense to feed Tele’a, who had opened his account in the first half with a smart poach from the breakdown, before holding up Jamie George over the whitewash in the final play.
Victory for the All Blacks maintains their formidable record at Eden Park and hands them a 2-0 series win over the English to begin Robertson’s era as head coach of the former world champions.