The English national team caused a big surprise in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in Japan: 19: 7 (10-0) the British defeated the favorite from New Zealand and thus reached the final. The English dominated the World Champion especially in the first half and maintained their early lead until the end. This also ended the championship-spanning 18-game winning streak of New Zealand.
Rugby - @EnglandRugby end New Zealand's @AllBlacks 18-match winning streak at the Rugby World Cup (2007-2019) to reach the final for the 4th time (1991 L, 2003 W, 2007 L). # RWC2019 #ENGNZL
- Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) October 26, 2019While the All Blacks performed their haka before the game, England's team lined up in a V-formation symbolizing Victory. Accordingly offensively, the British began against favorites. After just two minutes, Manu Tuilagi made the first attempt, Owen Farrell made the early 7-0 lead with the subsequent conversion. Never before at a World Cup had a team earlier scored a try against New Zealand.
England leads the statistics
As a result, the English dominated the game, had more possession, gained more space and played more passes. But especially important: The defensive was stable against the triple world champion. In the first half, England did not miss a single point and relegated shortly before the break when George Ford added a penalty kick to make it 10-0. However, the English team had to worry about captain Owen Farrell, who had to be treated for an injury, but initially could continue playing.
The second half began again with great cheers from the outsider: Ben Young put the second try of the game, but the referee did not count the points in the view of the television images due to a previous offside position (48.). A little later Ford raised again but with a penalty kick to 13: 0.
The English dominance initially stopped. But when Ardie Savea scored the ball in an English throw in the alley, he scored after 57 minutes the first attempt for New Zealand. Richie Mo'unga reduced conversion to five points behind. But with two more penalties Ford increased for England on the 19: 7-final (63./69.).
In the final on 2 November England will face Wales or South Africa, who play the second semi-final on Sunday.