KEY POINTS:
All Blacks 41 England 20
LONDON - The All Blacks piled further misery on England yesterday, dismantling another layer of what was once Fortress Twickenham.
The scary part of their 41-20 demolition was that they rarely used their jackhammers; it was more crowbar and hammer damage as
they returned to test action after a nine-week layoff.
In most facets of the game, the All Blacks outclassed England but some of the lethargy which has gathered since their last losing appearance at Phokeng, new combinations and resolute English resistance, inhibited a scoring blowout.
England coach Andy Robinson lamented a 10-minute points deluge before halftime as the main difference in the sides.
In truth, there was little comparison.
When Robinson further mentioned the All Blacks' composure with the ball, the way they effected turnovers and the influence of Daniel Carter, he was getting closer to the mark.
The All Blacks dominated the scrum, dialled in well at the lineouts, won the crucial turnovers and looked comfortable with the ball.
England bashed away, ploughed bodies into contact and showed the attacking ambition they warned would be part of their new rugby philosophy. But they were uneasy when they tried to move possession under pressure.
"You have got to be ruthlessly efficient against a side like this," new assistant Brian Ashton said. "If you are not, all the ambition in the world won't help."
The forward skirmishes were robust. England were direct and confrontational but reconstructed All Black lock Keith Robinson thought they lacked venom.
He said England's pack was not anywhere near as potent as the one he encountered the last time he played them in the Eden Park test in 2004. Robinson called the lineouts and was content with that area and the scrum work.
"We did not get 100 per cent in the lineouts but it was a step in the right direction and the scrum was adequate although we wanted to get the right side up a bit more," he said.
The All Blacks used Reuben Thorne near the front with good results, Robinson cleaned the middle of the lineout while impressive hooker Keven Mealamu threw the ball in much quicker. Speed was a key weapon too for Richie McCaw, Chris Masoe and others at the tackle.
"The key was the turnovers," England lock Ben Kay lamented. "They seemed to find another gear when they got there."
For much of the day-nighter though, the All Blacks battled to find their overdrive shift. They were effective rather than proficient.
They claimed all sorts of records including the biggest margin of defeat for England at Twickenham and will leave for France today much more satisfied with their work than they were after their 23-19 win against England last year.
Record crowd, record receipts, record loss for England, it was hardly cause for celebration for the hosts who slumped to their sixth straight loss and the worst sequence in 34 years. Argentina are next and they have never, in any sense, been a pushover.
Nor have the French but, as coach Graham Henry pointed out, the performance has set a benchmark for what will be a vastly changed side to play in Lyon this weekend.
"We played some good football, we also conceded three tries and gave away too many penalties so there are things to work on there," he said.
The 82,000 crowd tried to drown out the haka with their singing in what Henry suggested was an uncharitable response. But Robinson did not notice it. "I was only eye-balling my opponent," he said.
From the kickoff, Robinson clattered into Kay, Julian White grappled with Carl Hayman and McCaw won a turnover in a snapshot of what was to follow. There was an early scare when Jamie Noon crossed after England made inroads but the video referee was unsighted and the try disallowed. The ledger was squared for the same player later in the half after he picked up a forward pass, though coach Robinson said the fourth-minute denial was a crucial moment.
Round those defensive lapses, the All Blacks scored twice from turnovers in their 22 as backs and forwards showed their counter-attacking assurance: Tony Woodcock's sidesteps, Chris Jack's catch and pass support play - they were actions as compelling as Rico Gear's gliding forays.
In between, the rush defence cut down debut midfielder Anthony Allen's options and Joe Rokocoko ran 60m for the try. Tack on Carter's peerless goalkicking and the 28-5 halftime lead was too much for the crowd who began throwing paper aeroplanes from the top tiers.
Disaster beckoned but a Ben Cohen try aided by some more patchy defence, and a Shaun Perry try when he collected a loose Aaron Mauger chip balanced a second half All Black haul of a converted Carter try and some penalties.
Referee Joel Jutge lost patience with the All Blacks slowing the ball and No 8 Chris Masoe was sinbinned to emulate his card last year.
Halfback Andrew Ellis came on as a late sub for Byron Kelleher who had been powerful in clearing the breakdowns. The youngster had a few neat touches and then earned a successful penalty when Danny Grewcock pulled his hair.
Cheap shot, cheap points, comfortable victory.
