LONDON: England's George Ford hit the post with a late penalty and then sent a drop-goal wide as the hosts let another lead slip to lose 24-22 to New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday in a rip-roaring start to the Autumn Internationals.
England had built an eight-point lead heading into the final quarter but a penalty, a second try by Mark Tele'a and a superb touchline conversion by Damian McKenzie edged New Zealand ahead after 76 minutes.
Replacement Ford then had two opportunities to win it for the home side but could not take either.
It was the third time in a row that England had led the All Blacks late in the game but, just as in their two July defeats, the All Blacks found a way to win it.
"We probably hit every emotion in the game, we showed a lot of character, with 15 minutes to go to come from eight points down was a special moment for us," All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said.
"I don't think George Ford has missed a drop kick in his life."
Number Eight Ardie Savea added: "We got lucky with the penalty kick, but rugby is a game of fine margins and we will take it. For us to stay in it and defend the goal-line like that, I'm very proud of the boys."
An early Marcus Smith penalty got England going but the All Blacks fashioned two great tries almost out of nothing, via moments of individual skill.
First, on-fire flanker Wallace Sititi delivered a superb offload to send Tele'a free and he easily scooted past prop Ellis Genge to score in the corner.
Then a cleverly disguised inside ball scissors move by Beauden Barrett put Will Jordan into space for a remarkable 36th try in his 38th game.
ENGLAND AMBITION
England were showing plenty of ambition themselves and, though they were unable to cut the line in the same way, they piled on enough pressure and gained scrum dominance to earn three more penalties, all of which Smith landed with aplomb to send his side in 14-12 down at halftime.
England blasted out of the blocks in the second half when Smith picked off a Cortez Ratima pass deep in his own 22 and raced clear, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso finishing it off.
New Zealand were being pinned back by England's aggressive and disciplined defence and when they did break clear for a Beauden Barrett try it was chalked off for a deliberate knock on earlier in the action by Caleb Clarke.
England were given the penalty, which Smith landed, so instead of trailing by two points, they led by eight.
A flurry of replacements merely added to the chaotic nature of the game and McKenzie, on at flyhalf for the visitors, reduced the deficit to five with 12 minutes left.
They then chose to run a late penalty in front of the posts and reaped the benefit when Tele'a was too strong for Ford on the right wing to level the scores.
McKenzie brilliantly landed the conversion from the touchline and the All Blacks led 24-22.
Anton Lienert-Brown was then yellow carded for a high hit and, though Ford hit the post with the penalty, New Zealand knocked on when regathering.
From the scrum England worked the ball forward and set up Ford for a drop goal to win it, only for his kick to sail wide.
Coach Steve Borthwick said he was pleased with his team's attacking intent but hugely frustrated to let another game slip.
"When we started two years ago we wanted to get England right to the top of world rugby again," he said. "You can see the team banging on the door."
England will now face Australia at Twickenham next Saturday, while New Zealand have a mouth-watering clash with Ireland in Dublin on Friday. — REUTERS