England hosted New Zealand on Saturday at Twickenham in their final autumn international.
The Red Rose had won both their matches already in November, and were looking to repeat their win over the All Blacks picked up on home soil back in December, which was New Zealand's only defeat since winning the 2011 World Cup.
However, in an enticing game, New Zealand pulled off a superb late try to recover from a brilliant England fightback.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live rugby coverage from Twickenham where England host New Zealand.
This is it. This is the match we have all been waiting for since the fixture was first announced, and New Zealand have been relishing this day for the best part of a year. They want revenge after they surprisingly lost here last December, while England want to make it three wins out of three Autumn Internationals. This is quite the spectacle.
The players are currently out warming up at Twickenham ahead of what could be an historic afternoon. England are looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since 2003 and maintain their 100% record in autumn, while the All Blacks can become the first team to complete a perfect calendar year since the vintage New Zealand side of 1989. The stakes are high this afternoon.
England came from behind to beat Australia 20-13 earlier this month before racing to a 31-12 win over Argentina last time out, but today's challenge is a whole different kettle of fish.
Right, let's bring you the teams.
ENGLAND XV: Brown, Ashton, Tomkins, Twelvetrees, Foden, Farrell, Dickson, B.Vunipola, Robshaw, Wood, Lawes, Launchbury, Cole, Hartley, Marler
So head coach Stuart Lancaster makes just one change to the team that beat Argentina last weekend.
Dan Cole comes into the front row in place of David Wilson. England are without Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt and Alex Corbisiero among others. Big ask for their young team today.
Here is what Lancaster has on the bench.
ENGLAND REPLACEMENTS: T.Youngs, Mullan, Wilson, Parling, Morgan, B.Youngs, Flood, Goode
And now let's take a look at the All Blacks.
NEW ZEALAND XV: Dagg, Piutau, B.Smith, Nonu, Savea, Carter, A.Smith, Read, McCaw, Messam, Whitelock, Retallick, Franks, Mealamu, Woodcock
Steven Hansen also makes just one change to his side following their win over France last weekend.
Winger Julian Savea replaces Cory Jane which means that Savea goes to the right flank and Charles Piutau moves to the left.
There is also the small matter of Dan Carter, one of the best players of all time in many people's eyes, winning his 100th Test cap for the All Blacks. A fabulous achievement.
10 minutes until the start, and the atmosphere is electric at Twickenham. All the tipsters are looking to New Zealand today, but after last year, do not write off a depleted England side.
One of the key battles to watch today will be Billy Vunipola against Kieran Read. The latter has five tries in his last five Tests, and finds himself against an inexperienced England man.
Just quickly, let's look at the All Blacks bench.
NEW ZEALAND REPLACEMENTS: Coles, Crockett, Faumuina, Romano, Luatua, Kerr-Barlow, Cruden, Crotty
Dan Carter is the first man out to a rapturous applause in the stands on his 100 Test cap for the All Blacks. A fine achievement. His teammates follow him out.
And out come England to pyro and cheers, wearing their burgundy tracksuit tops. We're awaiting the national anthems.
Seven of England's heroes from last year line up today against a New Zealand team who have won 12 out of 12 this year.
The New Zealand national anthem is underway. The away team are in their famous all-black strip with white trim.
A special mention for Dylan Hartley of England, who wins his 50th cap for the Red Rose today.
And now for the England national anthem. All together now: God save our gracious Queen...
Wonderfully sung from Twickenham. Beautiful. England are sporting their usual all-white home strip. It may be white vs. black on the field, but it will be a colourful encounter this afternoon.
And now, for the haka.
New Zealand perform the haka, while the home fans belt out 'Swing low, sweet chariot'. What an atmosphere we have inside Twickenham this afternoon.
We're moments away from the start.
KICK OFF! New Zealand, playing from left to right, get the match up and running.
England under pressure early as New Zealand force the lineout just yards from the try line. Brown forced to run it out. Brilliant position for the All Blacks.
England can get hands in at the lineout but not enough to win the ball, still New Zealand's possession.
It looks as if New Zealand have got their first try through Julian Savea. It's gone to the TMO.
TRY! England 0-5 New Zealand (Julian Savea)
What a start for the visitors. Brilliant play from Read who draws in three England players before offloading to Savea from the left, who coasts over the line.
CONVERSION! England 0-7 New Zealand (Dan Carter)
No mistake from Carter. Commanding position for New Zealand early on.
England with a decent response as Twelvetrees barges his way forward down the right. However, New Zealand are awarded a penalty as England can't keep their hands out of the ruck. The All Blacks opt for the lineout.
The resulting kick from the lineout wasn't great from New Zealand, and England now have a penalty in the centre of the field as Carter has his hands illegally in at the ruck. Farrell is going for the posts.
PENALTY SCORED! England 3-7 New Zealand (Owen Farrell)
Farrell clips it down the middle from 45m and England are up and running.
Nonu's kick in the line is intercepted by England, and it's now a lineout for the All Blacks on England's 10m line.
New Zealand are making the most of their width early on here as England are very narrow and on the defensive. The All Blacks are getting behind the first line with ease, but England can hold their own at the maul and win a penalty.
Carter limping slightly and receiving a bit of treatment. He'll carry on no doubt.
England get the ball at the scrum, but it's a messy pass out and New Zealand can turn it over.
Ben Foden is about to be left gutted. He intercepts a pass, goes racing away from his on 10m and goes over thinking he has a try, but New Zealand had the advantage and will go for the posts.
PENALTY SCORED! England 3-10 New Zealand (Dan Carter)
No mistake from Carter to the left of centre from 18m. The seven-point lead is restored.
England coming forward again with a good passing move down the line, but they're penalised for holding on for too long. New Zealand penalty.
Carter's chip nearly puts New Zealand in as Smith races on with the ball. He's just about to offload but Brown makes a crucial stop. New Zealand on top.
TRY! England 3-15 New Zealand (Kieran Read)
Six tries in six Tests for Reid. He takes the ball on the blindside and slides over on the wing. Brilliant from New Zealand.
CONVERSION! England 3-17 New Zealand (Dan Carter)
Three from three for Carter and his gold boots.
England kick the ball into touch and England drive forward and win a penalty. Farrell kicks it into the corner, and England will try to work a try from the lineout.
Brilliant defence from New Zealand just five metres from their own try line. England drive forward, but the All Blacks hold their own. Scrum time.
This England attacking spell has got the crowd lively, which is what the home side need.
New Zealand guilty of wheeling the scrum, and England have the penalty. Again, Farrell kicks it out for the lineout.
England drive their way over the line, but we don't know if they have got the ball down. The referee is asking the TMO if there is a try.
This is looking positive for England on the replays.
No try! The TMO says that it's inconclusive. Five-metre scrum now, England are gutted.
TMO time once again as Launchbury goes over. Dickson kicks the ball off Smith in the scrum and it doesn't look as if there is a knock-on for England. The question is whether Launchbury is offside or not.
TRY! England 8-17 New Zealand (Joe Launchbury)
It's given. Launchbury gets the ball over after pinball-like ruckus at the scrum.
CONVERSION! England 10-7 New Zealand (Owen Farrell)
Easy for Farrell. Game on. The atmosphere has lifted dramatically at Twickenham.
This is a real shame. Dan Carter cannot continue on his 100th Test, and Aaron Cruden is on.
New Zealand give away a penalty for not rolling away at the ruck. Farrell punts downfield and England have a lineout on the New Zealand 22m.
Nice play from England as they win the lineout and work it wide well. Awesome play from Vunipola and Lawes who drive forward. However, Tomkins then fumbles, and New Zealand have the penalty.
Super recovery from the All Blacks with a really powerful scrum, and Dagg can smash the ball into touch. England lineout just short of halfway.
Robshaw and Twelvetrees are a bit to eager to chase and concede the penalty for being offside. Chance for Aaron Cruden to get off the mark from 42m.
CONVERSION! England 10-20 New Zealand (Aaron Cruden)
Just inside of the right post from Cruden. Lovely kick. New Zealand have double England's points, although the recent run of play wouldn't suggest that.
SIN BIN! Kieran Read concedes a penalty for diving in at the side of the ruck.
PENALTY SCORED! England 13-20 New Zealand (Owen Farrell)
Farrell kicks England to within seven points, and the hosts now have a man advantage for the next 10 minutes. Big period of play for them.
Piutau catches the ball right on the touchline but takes it out as he passes it. Lineout for England.
England go on the attack from the lineout, with Lawes doing brilliantly well. Tomkins and Farrell get the timing of their lines all wrong though and knock the ball on. Scrum for New Zealand on halfway.
England turn it over and win a penalty as New Zealand are guilty of standing in the scrum. Awesome stuff, and Farrell has a kick on the All Blacks 10m.
PENALTY SCORED! England 16-20 New Zealand (Owen Farrell)
Four from four for Farrell. England also just four points from drawing level.
England have a real go in the final seconds of the half. Launchbury and Foden holding it on the wings.
England knock on the ball and New Zealand will be relieved and will kick the ball out for half time.
HALF TIME: England 16-20 New Zealand
What a fantastic first half that was. New Zealand raced into a 17-3 lead thanks to tries from Savea and Read and they looked unstoppable.
However, England rallied, got the crowd behind them and have got right back in the match. Launchbury's try combined with the boot of Farrell sees the hosts go into the break just four points behind.
I cannot wait for the second half, with New Zealand still down to 14 thanks to Read's sin bin.
The teams are back out at Twickenham.
KICK OFF! England, playing from left to right, get the back match underway.
No early chances for either side. Reid is back on for New Zealand.
England have started this half well and are on top in the scrum. They're a little too eager to get going at this one, so we'll retake on the halfway line.
England are driving forward and making ground. Twelvetrees makes a big move forward over the game line.
England putting some good pressure on the All Blacks but then Ashton tries a little grubber to the corner, but it bounces inside and New Zealand can put the ball down.
So nearly a chance for England! They play the kick forward and it bounces into the path of Vunipola who was the closest man to the New Zealand try line, but he wasn't expecting it and the All Blacks get away with it.
New Zealand win a penalty and have a chance to go seven in front. Cruden over it from 38m.
OFF THE POST! Cruden hits the upright, but the chance is still there for New Zealand.
Savea races down the right for New Zealand and offloads towards a teammate, but Ashton swiftly tucks inside to intercept and stop the attack. He then comes away and kicks the ball downfield and is clearly blocked off by McCaw. Penalty England.
PENALTY SCORED! England 19-20 New Zealand (Owen Farrell)
Farrell keeps his cool and slides it just off the inside of the right post. Just one point in it now.
The tempo is staggering at the moment, the crowd are meeting everything England do with a huge roar. They boo in unison though as New Zealand are awarded a penalty, which is kick into touch.
England have the momentum right now, and are well on top.
New Zealand retain the ball well in the attack and make their way to the England 22m with a couple of offloads, but they're penalised for not releasing and give England a penalty.
Farrell, after getting a telling off from the referee for having a go at a New Zealand man, boots the ball into touch.
England win the ball from the lineout and keep hold of it on the attack before winning the penalty as the All Blacks come off their feet. This should be the lead to England.
PENALTY SCORED! England 22-20 New Zealand (Owen Farrell)
He gets it and England lead for the first time in this match! Farrell makes it look easy, and the hosts are rewarded for their brilliant second-half performance so far.
England need to be careful here. They are risking letting New Zealand into an easy score with some sloppy errors. Time to deal with big pressure.
New Zealand just inches away! Brown brings down Piutau.
TRY! England 22-25 New Zealand (Julian Savea)
What a try for New Zealand. Their pressure pays off as Nonu pulls off a wonderful offload to draw in two players and give it to Savea. He holds off his man and goes over.
CONVERSION! England 22-27 New Zealand (Aaron Cruden)
Cruden gives New Zealand a five-point lead.
Smith charges down a kick from Tom Youngs, and England seem to be weathering a storm from the All Blacks at the moment.
What a final 10 minutes we are in for. So unpredictable.
What a final 10 minutes we are in for. So unpredictable.
England lost the lineout, a rarity in this match, and New Zealand have all the ball at the moment and they build to the halfway line.
England penalised at the breakdown for not backing away. It's way out, but a chance for New Zealand to extend their lead with this kick.
PENALTY SCORED! England 22-30 New Zealand (Aaron Cruden)
In a tense atmosphere around Twickenham, Cruden holds his nerve to punt the All Blacks into an eight-point lead.
Kieran Read wins a penalty for New Zealand, and Cruden smashes it into touch.
New Zealand win the lineout well and drive forward. It's going to take something special from England to come back now.
England win the scrum, deep in their own half, and will try to run it. They are going for it here, and they have to.
England are being pegged back in their own half by New Zealand at the moment, who are showing why they are the world's best team.
New Zealand win the scrum and then boot the ball into the corner for the lineout to England. They're just running down the clock, and have killed the noise from the crowd.
FULL TIME: England 22-30 New Zealand
Well that's it. England were so close and had a brilliant chance of victory when taking the lead in the 60th minute. However, New Zealand showed why they are the best side in the world with a late try in a stunning game. England ran them close, but New Zealand had the last laugh.
The All Blacks go to Dublin next week and face Ireland with the chance to win all their matches in 2013.
England will be disappointed but can also be encouraged by this display, they really tested the All Blacks in what was a brilliant game.
Well what a game that was, but that is not all for today as far as England and rugby is concerned. Join me, Matt Cotton, later on this evening as England take on France in the Rugby League World Cup.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
