England downs New Zealand at Twickenham and ends All Blacks’ Grand Slam hopes

LONDON (AP) — England defeated New Zealand for the first time at Twickenham in 13 years, winning 33-19 to end the All Blacks’ Grand Slam hopes on Saturday.

England was behind 12-0 early but rallied impressively with 25 straight points and 33 of the last 40 for a crushing milestone result.

A 10th straight win since February — England’s longest streak in nearly a decade — was also the biggest yet in coach Steve Borthwick’s three-year reign.

England beat the All Blacks infrequently, only the ninth time in 120 years.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks’ bid to sweep the home unions, after beating Ireland and Scotland, was ended convincingly.

Will Jordan’s 45th test try lifted them to within six points with 15 minutes to go but even with Ben Earl in the sin-bin England finished strong.

A George Ford penalty gave England a decisive nine-point gap with five to go and winger Tom Roebuck put the cherry on top with a late try from a dropped All Blacks pass.

Ford was named the man of the match, a year after he was booed off Twickenham for missing a late penalty and drop goal in a two-point loss to the All Blacks.

Ford, picked at flyhalf ahead of British and Irish Lions Fin Smith and Marcus Smith for his greater experience and composure, was three of five off the tee but it was his two drop goals before halftime that gave England boosts of hope and energy.

The double drops lifted England to within one point at halftime, and three minutes after the break they were finally ahead on Sam Underhill’s try converted by Ford.

Ford had a try scrubbed by an offside penalty but even after New Zealand hooker Codie Taylor returned from the sin-bin, Fraser Dingwall blew over the try-line running off his midfield partner Ollie Lawrence.

New Zealand took advantage of Earl’s yellow card for Jordan’s converted try but England finished the match as it started, on fire.

England met the haka in a U formation and enjoyed a lively start, though it was well contained by New Zealand.

The All Blacks were clinical at the other end, easily getting wide of England with big passes by Beauden Barrett and Quinn Tupaea for tries by Leicester Fainga’anuku and Taylor in a four-minute span.

But England’s attack was transformed by the passing skills of Marcus Smith, who replaced Freddie Steward after the fullback suffered a head knock.

Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was unleashed and Lawrence busted two tackles to score and England was on its way.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby