Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson also kicked three penalties and a drop-goal, but New Zealand claimed two touchdowns of their own – Jonah Lomu’s seventh in seven Tests against England and a superb Doug Howlett effort.

England reduced the deficit two minutes before half-time when Wilkinson booted a 45-metre penalty after All Blacks prop Joe McDonnell had infringed.

Wilkinson’s kick calmed an increasingly tense situation, as England found themselves matched in every department by a New Zealand side playing committed rugby.

The All Blacks kept conceding penalties, though, and Wilkinson was just short with another goal attempt from 51 metres as the half drew to a close.

There was still time for England to launch one last attack, and it produced a rich reward.

Wilkinson, dancing and weaving past All Blacks defenders, somehow delivered a pass out of the tackle – and supporting Leicester flanker Lewis Moody dived over for his fourth Test try.

Wilkinson could not add the conversion, yet England had done enough to secure a 17-14 interval lead.