England national rugby union team | Rugby Union | Fandom powered by Wikia England national rugby union team England national rugby union team 242pages on First international (also the world's first) Scotland 4 1 England ( 6 June , 1998 ) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987 ) Best result Champions, 2003 </div></div> The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union . They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France , Ireland , Scotland , Italy , and Wales . They have won this championship on 25 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam . England also compete for the Calcutta Cup —which they currently hold—with Scotland as part of the Six Nations. England are currently ranked fourth in the world by the International Rugby Board . They won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and finished runner-up in 1991 and 2007 . The history of the team extends back to 1871 when the English rugby team played their first official Test match , losing to Scotland by one try.

England dominated the early Home Nations Championship (now the Six Nations) which started in 1883. Following the schism of rugby football in 1895, England did not win the Championship again until 1910. England first played against New Zealand (the All Blacks ) in 1905, South Africa in 1906, and Australia in 1909. England was one of the teams invited to take part in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and went on to appear in the final in the second cup in 1991 only to be defeated by Australia. Following their 2003 Six Nations Grand Slam, England won that year's World Cup — beating Australia 20–17 in extra time. They also contested the final in 2007 but finished as runners up, losing 15–6 to South Africa.

England players traditionally wear white shorts, navy socks (although they are now white and red) with white tops, and a white shirt with a red rose embroidered on it, and for the first time in the English rugby team's history, their away shirt is red (up until recently, navy blue has been the traditional colour). Their home ground is Twickenham Stadium where they first played in 1910. The team is administered by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Four former players have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame . Contents File:The-First-England-Team.jpg The expansion of rugby in the first half of the 19th century was driven by ex-pupils from many of England's Public Schools , especially Rugby , who, upon finishing school, took the game with them to universities, to London , and to the counties. [2] England's first international match was against Scotland on Monday 27 March 1871 . [3] Not only was this match England's first, but it also proved to be the first ever rugby union international.

[3] Scotland won the match with two tries and a conversion to one try; a 4–1 victory in front of a crowd of 4,000 people at Raeburn Place , Edinburgh . [4] A subsequent international took place at the Oval in London which saw England defeat Scotland 8–3. [5] [6] In 1875, England played their first game against the Irish at the Oval, winning 7–0; the match was Ireland's first ever Test. [7] [8] England defeated Scotland in 1880 to become the first winners of the Calcutta Cup . [9] [10] Their first match against Wales was played on February 19 , 1881 at Richardson's Field in Blackheath . [10] [11] England recorded their largest victory, defeating the Welsh 30–0 and scoring 13 tries in the process. [11] The subsequent meeting the following year at St Helens in Swansea was a closer contest; with England winning 10–0. [12] Two years later, the first Home Nations championship was held and England emerged as the inaugural winners.

[13] In 1889, England played their first match against a non-home nations team when they defeated the New Zealand Natives 7–0 at Rectory Field in Blackheath. [14] [15] In 1890 England shared the Home Nations trophy with Scotland. [16] England first played New Zealand (the All Blacks ) in 1905. The All Blacks scored five tries, worth three points at this time, to win 15–0. [17] The following year, they played France for the first time, and later that year they first faced South Africa (known as the Springboks); James Peters was withdrawn from the England squad after the South Africans objected to playing against a black player. The match was drawn 3–3. [18] England first played France in 1907, [19] and Australia (known as the Wallabies) in 1909 when they were defeated 3–9. [20] The year 1909 saw the opening of Twickenham as the RFU's new home, which heralded a golden era for English rugby union.

England's first international at Twickenham brought them victory over Wales, and England went on to win the International Championship (then known as the Five Nations) for the first time since the great schism of 1895. Although England did not retain the title in 1911, they did share it in 1912. A Five Nations Grand Slam was then achieved in 1913 and 1914 as well as in 1921 following the First World War . England subsequently won the Grand Slam in 1924 and as well as in 1925. [21] This was despite having started 1925 with a loss to the All Black Invincibles in front of 60,000 fans at Twickenham. [22] After winning another Grand Slam in 1928, England played the Springboks in front of 70,000 spectators at Twickenham in 1931.

Following the ejection of France due to professionalism in 1930, which thus reverted The Five Nations back to the Home Nations tournament, [23] England went on to win the 1934 and 1937 Home Nations with a Triple Crown, [24] and in 1935 achieved their first victory over the All Blacks. [25] [26] When the Five Nations resumed with the re-admission of France in 1947 after the Second World War , England shared the championship with Wales. The early Five Nations competitions of the 1950s were unsuccessful for England, winning one match in the 1950 and 1951 championships. [21] England toured South Africa for the first time in 1952 where they lost to the Springboks 8–3. England won the 1953 Five Nations, and followed this up with a Grand Slam in 1957, and win in 1958. England broke France's four-championship streak by winning the 1963 Championship.

[21] After this victory, England played three Tests in the Southern Hemisphere and lost all three: 21–11 and 9–6 against the All Blacks, and 18–9 against Australia. [27] England did not win a single match in 1966, and managed only a draw with Ireland. They did not win another Championship that decade. Don White was appointed as England's first-ever coach in 1969. According to former Northampton player Bob Taylor, "Don was chosen because he was the most forward-thinking coach in England". [28] His first match in charge was an 11–8 victory over South Africa at Twickenham in 1969. Of the eleven games England played with White in charge they won three, and drew one and lost seven. He resigned as England coach in 1971. England had wins against Southern Hemisphere teams in the 1970s; with victories over South Africa in 1972, New Zealand in 1973 and Australia in 1976.

The 1972 Five Nations Championship was not completed due to the Troubles in Northern Ireland when Scotland and Wales refused to play their Five Nations away fixtures in Ireland. England played in Dublin in 1973 and were given a standing ovation lasting five minutes. After losing 18–9 at Lansdowne Road , the England captain, John Pullin famously stated, "We might not be very good but at least we turned up." [29] England started the following decade with a Grand Slam victory in the 1980 Five Nations - their first for 23 years. [30] However in the 1983 Five Nations, England failed to win a game and picked up the wooden spoon . [31] In the first Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, England were grouped in pool A alongside Australia, Japan and the United States . England lost their first game 19–6 against Australia. They went on to defeat Japan and the United States, and met Wales in their quarter-final, losing the match 16–3.

[32] In 1989, England won matches against Romania and Fiji , followed by victories in their first three Five Nations games of 1990. They lost to Scotland in their last game however, giving Scotland a Grand Slam. England recovered in the following year by winning their first Grand Slam since 1980. England hosted the 1991 World Cup and were in pool A, along with the All Blacks, Italy and the United States. Although they lost to the All Blacks in pool play, they qualified for a quarter-final going on to defeat France 19–10. England then defeated Scotland 9–6 to secure a place in the final against Australia which they lost 12–6. [33] The next year, England completed another Grand Slam and did not lose that year, including a victory over the Springboks. In the lead up to the 1995 World Cup in South Africa , England completed another Grand Slam - their third in five years. In the World Cup, England defeated Argentina , Italy and Samoa in pool play and then defeated Australia 25–22 in their quarter-final.

England's semi-final was dominated by the All Blacks and featured four tries, now worth five points each, by Jonah Lomu ; England lost 45–29. [34] They then lost the third/fourth place play-off match against France. [33] In 1997, Clive Woodward became England's coach. That year, England drew with New Zealand at Twickenham after being heavily defeated in Manchester the week before. England toured Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 1998. Many of the England team made themselves unavailable for the tour nicknamed the "tour from hell" where England suffered a record 76–0 defeat to the Wallabies. [35] In 1999 during the last ever Five Nations match, Scott Gibbs sliced through six English tackles to score in the last minute, and the last ever Five Nations title went to Scotland. File:Twickenham Stadium, view from North Stand.jpg Up until 1910, the English rugby team used various stadia in a number of venues around England before settling at Twickenham Stadium .

[54] [55] After sell-out matches at Crystal Palace in 1905 and 1906 against New Zealand and South Africa respectively, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) decided to invest in their own ground. In 1906, the RFU arranged for William Williams to find a home ground for English Rugby. The land for the ground was purchased the following year for £ 5,572 12 s and 6 d , and construction began the following year. [56] The first England match was held on October 9 , 1910 between England and Wales. England ran out winners, 11–6, beating Wales for the first time since 1898. [57] The stadium was expanded in 1927 and again in 1932. Further upgrades did not happen until the 1990s when new North, East and West stands were built. [56] A new South stand was built in 2005 and 2006 to make the stadium into a complete bowl.

The first match to be played at the redeveloped Twickenham was on Sunday November 5 , 2006 against the All Blacks. [58] England lost the match 20–41 in front of a record crowd of 82,076. [59] Although England have played home matches almost exclusively at Twickenham since 1910, they have played at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium twice in 1998, and at Old Trafford against New Zealand in 1997 and at Wembley Stadium against Canada in 1992. [60] [61] Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Main article: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is very commonly sung at England fixtures — especially at Twickenham. The song was first sung during the final Five Nations match of 1988, against Ireland. England were losing 3–0 at half time, but in the second half scored six tries to win 35–3. Three of the tries were scored by Chris Oti , a black player winning his second England cap but making his Twickenham début.

A group from Douai School began singing the gospel hymn Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – as they did for their first XV – in honour of Oti and the whole crowd joined in. From then on, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot became synonymous with Twickenham and the England team. [62] [63] [64] Strip Edit England plays in white shirts, white shorts and navy socks with white tops. The emblem on the shirts is a red rose , rather than the Plantagenet Three Lions displayed on the shirts of the England football and England cricket teams. Currently the strip is manufactured by Nike and O2 is the shirt sponsor. [65] Red is the current change strip, although prior to the introduction of the red strip, navy blue was used. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) had created the national side's emblem prior to an English team being sent to Edinburgh to play a Scottish side. A red rose was chosen to be the side’s emblem. [66] The white kit worn by the national team was taken from the kit used at Rugby School .

[66] Alfred Wright, an employee of the Rugby Football Union, is credited with the standardisation and new design of the rose, which up until 1920 had undergone many variations in its depiction. [66] The Wright design is thought to have been used without minor alteration until the late 1990s. [66] It was not until 1997 that the rose was modernised when Nike became the official strip supplier. In 2003 England first used a skin-tight strip. This was intended to make it more difficult for the opposition to grasp the shirt when tackling. [67] The home and away strips for 2007 were unveiled on 15 May that year. The materials used are superior, offering improved performance to the 2003 kit. However, a sweeping red mark on the base-white front which forms St George's Cross on the top left, and a changed away-strip (dark blue to red), have received criticism because it is felt that emphasis has been placed on St George's Cross at the expense of the traditional red rose.

[68] The new strip was introduced in England's home game against Wales on 4 August , while the alternative strip was first used against France on 18 August . [69] Record Edit England's only annual tournament is the Six Nations Championship , which is played against five other European nations: France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. The Six Nations started out as the Home Nations Championship in 1883 which England won with a Triple Crown . England have won the title more times than any other nation by winning it outright 25 times, and sharing victory ten times. Their longest wait between championships was 18 years (1892–1910). During the Six Nations, England also contests the Calcutta Cup with Scotland which England first won in 1880. They also contest the Millennium Trophy during the Six Nations with Ireland. The Millennium Trophy was first contested in 1988 when it was won by England. Edit England have contested every Rugby World Cup since it began in 1987, reaching the final three times and winning it once in 2003 . In the inaugural tournament they finished second in their pool before losing to Wales in the quarter-finals.

They again finished pool runners-up in 1991 but recovered to beat France in their quarter-final, and then Scotland in their semi-final, en-route to 12–16 final defeat to Australia. In 1995 England topped their group and defeated Australia 25–22 at the quarter-final stage before being beaten by the All Blacks in the semi-final. Their third-fourth place play-off match against France was lost 19–9. The 1999 competition saw England again finish second in the group stage. Though they proceeded to win a play-off game against Fiji they went out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, losing 44–21 to South Africa. England exacted revenge over South Africa in the early stages of the 2003 tournament , winning 25–6 to qualify for the knockout stages as winners of Pool C. They defeated Wales in their quarter-final, before a subsequent semi-final victory against the French earned them a place in the final in Sydney. After a tense match and a 20 minute period of extra time , England triumphed 20–17 over Australia to lift the Webb Ellis Cup .

The 2007 defence of the cup in France got off to a poor start, with a below par victory over the United States and a heavy 36–0 defeat to South Africa leaving the holders on the brink of elimination at the group stage. Improved performances against Samoa and Tonga saw England again reach the knockout stages as pool runners-up, before a surprise 12–10 defeat of Australia in Marseille and a narrow 14–9 victory over the host nation France carried England to a second successive final appearance. The final was played in Paris on 20 October against South Africa, who won by 15 points to 6. England's Jonny Wilkinson became the highest overall points scorer in World Cup history when he kicked all 12 points in England's quarter-final victory over Australia in 2007. He kicked a further 9 points (including a Template:Convert/yd Template:Convert/test/A drop goal) in the semi final and 6 in the final defeat to South Africa. [70] England have the fourth most points in World Cup history with 957, and the highest number of drop-goals (18).

[71] Overall See also: List of England national rugby union team matches (1988–present) England have won 316 of their 594 Test matches, a winning record of 53.20%. [72] When the World Rankings were introduced in October 2003, England were ranked first. They briefly fell to second in September that year before regaining first place. They fell to second, and then to third in June 2004. After the 2005 Six Nations they fell to sixth where they remained until they moved into fifth in December that year. In 2006, their ranking again fell and they finished the year ranked seventh. They are currently ranked fourth, behind South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina, as of 5 November 2007 . [73] Their Test record against all nations, updated 2007-11-05 : [72] [74] IRB World Ranking Leaders Four former England representatives have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame : Bill Beaumont , Martin Johnson , Jason Leonard , and Wavell Wakefield .

[76] [77] Wavell Wakefield represented England in 31 Tests between 1920 and 1927, including 13 Tests as captain. He was involved in three Five Nations Grand Slams in 1921, 1923 and 1924. Playing as flanker , Wakefield introduced new elements to back row tactics which beforehand concentrated on the set piece. He became a Member of Parliament in 1935, and was knighted in 1944. He became the RFU President in 1950 and following his retirement from politics was awarded the title the first Baron Wakefield of Kendal. [78] Between 1975 and 1982, Bill Beaumont represented England in 34 Tests. Playing at lock , he was captain between 1978 and 1982 in 21 Tests including the 1980 Grand Slam — England's first since 1957. Later that year, he captained the British Lions to South Africa - the first time an Englishman had captained the Lions since 1930.

Furthermore, Beaumont represented the Barbarians FC on fifteen occasions. [79] Described as arguably "the greatest forward" to play for England, [80] Martin Johnson played 84 Tests for England, and seven Tests for the British and Irish Lions. He first represented England in 1993, and later that year the Lions. He captained the Lions to South Africa in 1997, and in 1999 was appointed captain of England. He became England's most successful ever captain. He became the first player to captain two Lions tours when he captained them in Australia in 2001. [81] He retired from Test rugby after he lead England to a Six Nations Grand Slam and World Cup victory in 2003. [80] Jason Leonard, also known as "The Fun Bus", [82] appeared 114 times for England at prop, which was the world record for international appearances for a national team until 2005, when it was surpassed by Australia's scrum-half George Gregan .

[83] He was on the England team that finished runners up to Australia in the 1991 Rugby World Cup final, but avenged this twelve years later, coming on as a substitute for Trevor Woodman in England's victorious 2003 Rugby World Cup final appearance. He also went on three British and Irish Lions tours where he was capped five times. [83] Individual records Edit The record for Test career points for England is held by Jonny Wilkinson with 967 points. [84] The record for tries is held by Rory Underwood with 49 tries; Underwood is also England's most capped back with 85 caps. The most capped England player is former prop Jason Leonard who made 114 appearances over his 14-year career. [85] England's youngest ever Test player was Henri Laird who was 18 years and 134 days old when he played against Wales in 1927. [86] Training File:All Blacks England.jpg Although the England team is governed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), players have been contracted to their clubs since the advent of professionalism in late 1995.

Since then, players have often been caught in a "power struggle" between their clubs and the RFU; this is commonly referred to as a club versus country conflict. [87] The first major conflict between England's top clubs (who play in the English Premiership ) and the RFU occurred in 1998, when some of the clubs refused to release players to tour Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. [88] The tour became known as the "Tour from hell" after an England squad of second-string players were defeated in all four Tests, including a 76–0 defeat by Australia. [89] The clubs also withdrew from the 1998–1999 European Cup (now called the Heineken Cup ). [90] In 2001, the top clubs and the RFU formed England Rugby to help govern the club and international game. The parties agreed to restrict the number of matches at club and international level that elite players (a group of 50 or 60 players selected by the RFU) could play in order to prevent player burnout and injuries.

[91] In return for releasing players from club commitments, the clubs were to receive compensation from the RFU. This agreement was considered central to the England victory in the 2003 World Cup . Sir Clive Woodward , England coach from November 1997, resigned in 2004 because he was unable to get the access to the players that he wanted; "I wanted more from the union - more training days with the players, more influence over the way they were treated - and ended up with less." [92] Andy Robinson , Woodward's successor, blamed the lack of control over players for his team's unsuccessful record. [93] Brian Ashton , who took over from Robinson, intentionally named his playing squad for Six Nations matches in 2007 at an early opportunity in the hope that their clubs would not play them in the weekend prior to a Test. [94] The RFU and the Premiership clubs are negotiating a similar deal to the one in 2001 that will enable international players to be released into the England squad prior to international matches. [95] Coaches The following is a list of all England coaches.

The first appointed coach was Don White in 1969, and the current coach is Brian Ashton who took over as coach in 2006. [96] [97] Name England vs New Zealand: as it happened - Telegraph - Ireland v South Africa: live Latest FT: England 21 New Zealand 24 Well, England started with a bang, super try from May. England were on top for the first quarter but couldn't convert that into points. As the match went on, the Kiwis dominated - even with 14 men. England's scrum matched the Kiwis, or more, and the England lineout was superb. But their kicking from hand never allowed the forwards a chance to have a go with reasonable field position. The second half was all New Zealand, save for a late rally when it was pretty much too late and, even though they were not quite at their best, they always looked too composed and too strong. Had it not been for some dire place-kicking, the scoreline would have reflected the gulf. Thanks for following it with us - enjoy the rest of the weekend. 80 mins: England gather the kick off, this is last chance saloon...

Looking like a good move but Chris Robshaw has dropped it and that's the end of the match 79 mins: The Kiwis take their time getting to the restart, as you would. We've had 80 minutes. 78 mins: Fortunately though the Kiwis fouled. England try again with a scrum. England drive forward, yet another Kiwi infringement, and England get a penalty try. And better still, they do manage a drop goal conversion! 77 mins: England need to score from this scrum. Three men in a line behind the scrum. Penalty. England tap and go... but have made a complete pig's ear of it. 76 mins: England kick for the corner. They win the lineout. England run from there and have a penalty under the posts. They're going to have a scrum. 75 mins: England have a chance to do something with a scrum in the Kiwi 22. Need to score from this and then see if they can pressure the Kiwis in the last few minutes. In all fairness, they have hardly been in the Kiwi end in this half. The Kiwis collapse the scrum.

72 mins: Anyhow, they've missed ANOTHER simple conversion. That side of the Kiwi game has been pants. Ken Peterson: Even a 80% dan carter would not have missed those kicks , terrible !!! 70 mins: Brilliant from New Zealand in the conditions, nothing flash, no fancy passing, just wave after wave of very larg men smashing forward half a yard at a time. 69 mins: The rain pounds down. The Kiwis pound England's defence. Their bench players making a lot of impact. They are camped in England's 22. 13th phase of ball. They go to the short side. held up. Still they come. 17th phase of play. They're queuing up on the blind side. Smith goes for the corner. Barrett looks to punch through. 22nd phase (!) and they are over. Just brutal and relentless. Sub front row man Charlie Faumuina is the man who delivers the knockout blow... ... However! The ref has gone to TV. Dunno why. He's way over. Try. Ref having an niffy game. 67 mins: TJ Perenara replaces Aaron Smith at scrum half.

A penalty every minute against England at the moment. Off their feet. 65 mins: Scenes! SBW bursts through the line, comes from deep and looks for all money like he is going to score. Very surprisingly, he fluffs the pass and England's defender Wood, in desperation, commits an offside. The Kiwis want a penalty try, or a yellow card. You could make a case for either I think. As it is, just a penalty, and Barrett can't miss from here. England 14 New Zealand 19 63 mins: Inevitably, England have given up a penalty in their own 22 and here is Barrett to step up... and miss it! Terrible kick, miles wide. Eastmond off for Ford. 62 mins: England have only had 14% of the ball in the last ten minutes - seven of those minutes have come with the Kiwis down to 14. Care off. Rokoduguni off. Youngs and Watson on. 61 mins: Brown stays down on the ball, NZ have a penalty which they hammer down to England's corner. Mealamu on for Kaino 59 mins: Cruden off.

Crockett off. Beauden Barrett on. Ben Franks on. It's raining now. Sevea pushes England back a long way. Rokoduguni has to slide over his own line and touch down. 65% of this half has been played in England territory. It's England who have the man over but it is New Zealand who are pressing for a try. Savea drops it at the crucial moment. 58 mins: Line out has been excellent for England. Here they are with just such a thing a few yards inside their own half. England's kicking from nine and ten has been so-so, not finding the touches. 56 mins: Mild argy bargy. Dane Coles kicked Hartley. Hooker on hooker action. England's pulls at his opponent, then the Kiwi kicks out. Rather amusingly, the ref has to ask several times what his colleague is saying. Cannot hear him, I think. Simon McDowell the TV ref is saying no yellow, the onfield ref is hell bent on a yellow. All fun and games as the Kiwi hooker Coles is put in the sinbin. 55 mins: Mullen on. England backs to the wall.

They've got the ball but they are moving backwards. Care slices a panicky clearance. England right on their own line again. 54 mins: England playing it close, Care trying to get them ticking with a couple of darting runs. Eastmond kicks but it is charged down. England in big trouble as Rokoduguni tries to run clear but is caught. England are on their own touchline... Whitelock of New Zealand has dived through the ruck. The ball was playable and he has grounded it. But the ref says that he has knocked it on. It looks like he's skidded it along the ground. Ten out ten for quick thinking but not so good on the execution. England have a scrum. 52 mins: Heavyweight contest as Tuipulotu slams into Vunipola. the latter is taken off shortly after, not injured as far as I can see. 51 mins: Rolling maul, Vunipola with the ball. 49 mins: Good defence from Eastmond but England have been turned over. Cruden kicks... Savea in a foot race with Rokoduguni. Ah but the ball's won it.

47 mins: Missed conversion, though. Signs are not looking good for England - here are the Kiwis again. The hooker playing in an outside center role, the ball flicked out to Savea... Tackled into touch. Kiwis have stepped it up since the half. 45 mins: Spell of pressure for New Zealand, excellent handling from their forwards, feels like wave-after-wave. Aaron Smith passes, Kruis tries to intercept, comes out of the line and that opens up a hole for Read and Franks. NZ have three on one, Daggs with the ball. Bit of a sloppy pass but McCaw gathers it and plops over the line. England 14 New Zealand 16 43 mins: England have knocked it on but take the play into touch with the Kiwis looking rather dangerous. 42 mins: Attwood with a dummy and a change of pace as he runs it back. Little spell of kicking. 41 mins: NZ are going to have a penalty, Sevea ran over Barritt and England have made some sort of offence just inside their own half. Cruden is going to have a long, straight opportunity - and he has hit the post!

15.38 Tuipulotu is replacing Retallick, and the second half is underway. 15.36 Also good picture. 15.33 Good picture &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Telegraph Sport - Jonny May is the most influential &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;@EnglandRugby&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; player, having beaten four defenders, according to &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#IBMTryTracker&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt; HT: ENGLAND 14 NEW ZEALAND 11 Excellent start from England, a thrilling solo try from Jonny May. England should have a bit more to show from a half that they had the better of, but the Kiwis ensured they are still right in touch with some dogged defence and an efficient finish on one of their rare attacks. England could hardly ask for more, but they should have probably had more, IYKWIM.

39 mins: Work of a moment for Farrell, and it's England 14 New Zealand 11 38 mins: England have an advantage and they play it for a long time, hands on the floor I think was the original offence. England have a chance under the posts. 37 mins: Brown is under pressure from Williams under a high ball and very nearly flaps it into the Kiwi's path. Scrambles it clear. Martin writes: LoL.... All Blacks getting into 2nd gear ready for the victory. All over by half time..... 36 mins: The Kiwi fly-half drills that over the posts and, despite probably having the better of the match so far, England find themselves level-pegging. England 11 New Zealand 11 35 mins: England's number six Wood has been caught up to no good at the brekadown. Penalty. The Kiwis advance downfield. And now England give away another pen, this one right in front of the sticks. Sonny Bill charges, Eastmond is on the wrong side, lots of hands on the ball and England's discipline has let them down there.

33 mins: England building up a head of steam, Vunipola to the fore. They are looking to bash their way through the black line. Looks unlikely - so they try something else. Farrell steps back into the pocket and drifts a drop goal... just wide. Never easy but he wasn't under too much pressure so that probably goes down as a missed opportunity. 32 mins: Scrum to England. Kiwis penalised for collapsing it. Franks the guilty party. 30 mins: Collectors' item as McCaw makes a small human error, he hurls himself at a sliced kick and fails to take what would have been a brilliant catch. Knocks it on. 28 mins: Aaron and Conrad Smith are to the fore... Cheeky kick from the Kiwis' Cruden but it's straight into touch. England have got away unscathed despite being under the pump for two or three minutes there. 27 mins: Looking ominous for England as the Kiwis put together a pounding series of attacks into the 22. Cruden sees a gap, and there's Sonny Bill Williams trying to flick it to a teammat. England clear but Savea gets it form touch and keeps the pressure on.

25 mins: England trying to get it clear from their own 22, good clearing kick from Care. England pinch the line out, but excellent defence from the Kiwis turns that ball over... and Tom Ward has been blown up for offside. 24 mins: Cruden has kicked it. England 11 New Zealand 8 22 mins: With help from his linesman, the ref has awarded a penalty against Dylan Hartley. A high shove on Cruden. Fitzpatrick reckons it wasn't a pen, that the Kiwis got a break there. He says the Kiwis have been rocked back by England's start. Meanwhile, Laws has picked up a knock and is coming off, George Kruis is on. Martin Holmes: Best team ever will crush England in 80 mins. Don't dream thinking england will win. There's lots of dreamers on gambling sites! 21 mins: Hush falls on Twickenham and he's managed to squeeze that through. Well done. England 11 New Zealand 5 20 mins: England on the front foot, Brown tries a little chip forward...

but we're back for a penalty awarded against New Zealand, Read the guilty man at the maul. Farrell has another chance. This one harder... 19 mins: Dane Coles powering into the 22 but he and his Kiwi colleagues are penalised for going over the top. 17 mins: Chance for Farrell with a longish, straight penalty. He's nailed it. 8-5 15 mins: The crowd boo becuase the replays make it unclear if Cruden got the ball down fairly or if he shuffled it forward across the line once he hit the turf. It matters not. 14 mins: Cruden has missed the conversion. 13 mins: Ooh here come New Zealand though. Kano has burst through a tackle. Laws and hartley get in each others way. Cruden is over the line. The Kiwis have scored with their first attack, in fact, they have scored with their first forray into the England half. England 5 New Zealand 5 12 mins: Clever chip through from the Kiwis but there's May tidying up. Ben Smith dangerous though, galloping through the middle. Robshaw with a hard tackle on Crockett.

10 mins: England doing very well in these first ten minutes. Will they rue not adding a second score after being so on top? Eastmond has given away a penalty for no hands on the ground. 9 mins: Amazing passage of play. England have spent two minutes within six yards of the Kiwi line. Eastmond passes it out wide... this is it! England have the space. But Brown knocks it on. The Kiwis escape. 7 mins: England have a penalty for offside around the halfway line, after Vunipola pounces on Smith. New Zealand discipline lets them down and they are penalised another ten yards. Farrell kicks into the corner. England drive for the line. They're just a yard short. Eastmond tries to punch through. now Care tries to wriggle free. That Kiwi defence is resolute though. 5 mins: And it's another decent passage of play for England, they are getting several phases, and now Eastmond with a chance to run at the Kiwis. He is stopped in no uncertain terms. But England kick forward and here's May again! The ball bounces kindly, and Dagg makes a superb tackle.

He had Farrell right inside him but Dagg nailed him just in time. 4 mins: But Farrell fails to add the extras. 3 mins: Scenes! Out of nowhere, May has scored a sensational solo try for England. He goes round Conrad Smith and he has pierced the line... he is running down the left at Dagg, and Dagg is not going to get near him! Little shimmy, change of pace. This is a superb try. Wow. England 5 New Zealand 0 2 mins: England fullback Brown with a couple of good gathers under high ball. Smith kicks clear from the scrum, under good pressure from England. 1 mins: England kick off. Sonny Bill with a nice offload in the tackle. Ball returned at the English. Attwood drives forward for England. Farrell, on half way has a chance to kick it forward but puts it right down the throat of Savea. He calls for the mark but makes a mess of it, failing to find touch. 14.36 Anyway. To sport. 14.34 Haka! The Twickenham crowd attempt to drown it out with a rendition of Swing Low Sweet Chariot. The England players stare down their opponents.

14.32 And now the England one. &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: OptaJonny - 400 - A win against England at Twickenham this afternoon would take the &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;@AllBlacks&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; to 400 Test victories. Memorabilia. &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#ENGvNZL&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 14.29 The Kiwi anthem, one of the best IMHO. Their players looking calm, collected and rather terrifying. 14.28 And now the silence. 14.27 Beautifully played. 14.25 Now, time for the minute's silence for Remembrance Sunday and, before that, The Last Post played on the bugle. 14.23 Applause for the Kiwis as they take the field. They soon go into their huddle. 14.20 Other than Dan Carter, this is pretty much as good as it gets for New Zealand. What a formidable team.

And here they are in the tunnel, coming out onto the pitch now. 14.15 Here are the teams again for those just joining us.

England: Mike Brown; Semesa Rokoduguni, Brad Barritt, Kyle Eastmond, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Wood; Courtney Lawes, Dave Attwood; David Wilson, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Ben Morgan, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Anthony Watson New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty Referee: Nigel Owens (WAL) &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Sam Peters - Andy Farrell in middle of player's huddle giving orders. Rowntree on outside looking in.

Lancaster not on field pre match.&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 14.10 Greenwood and Wilkinson backstage, as it were, explaining what these last few moments before a big match at Twickenham feel like. Wilkinson: "There's a lot of a stress. Me and Matt Dawson used to each have a piece of paper with three or four words on it that we would shout throughout the match. You cannot do it for all the millions supporting, you just have to think about doing it for the people close to you - first of all your teammates and then your family." What a fascinating, decent, intense and slightly deranged man Jonny Wilkinson is. Always love listening to him talk. 14.09 Stuart Lancaster also keen for his team to play "for the full 80." So we're all in agreement that the game lasts for an hour and 20 minutes. There are about 20 minutes until we start. 14.08 And here's Caroline Blackman: The Haka is part of the history of the game - just take it.

14.05 Here's a prediction from John McEnerney Afternoon Alan, sure England will put it up to All Blacks but as we've seen so many times before no matter you throw at them they just take & then do you. Last year they did it to Ireland in the last minute (heartbreaking). NZ are coming off the back of winning the RC & are still match sharp, Eng don't have enough to really test this AB side. Unless the ABs have a meltdown there will only be one result. &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Oliver Brown - Apparently Julian Savea's nickname is 'Chartered'. Superb. &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#AllBlacks&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 14.00 Here, with a somewhat more considered opinion on the correct way to respond to the Haka, is England World Cup winner Will Greenwood. The best way to receive New Zealand’s pre-match haka is in complete silence. Not just as a player, but as a stadium.

That still quiet when everyone is watching the same event, almost breathless, on edge, aware of what is happening and what it means. In the past, teams and players have tried to neuter the haka with varying success. The comments about the haka being a circus act are misjudged – it is something that has a life of its own both on the field and off it, which is why it should be allowed to breathe at Twickenham. Don't drown it out with Swing Low. Let England’s players feed off it. They are no longer the inexperienced kids that need protecting or shielding. These guys have some serious scalps under their belt, they can mix it with the best, so let the haka fuel their intensity. It is the mark of a confident team to not care what the opposition do, to absorb it, internalise it and ultimately turn their power against them. Allow England’s players that moment, and then, as one, Twickenham can erupt into song. More from Will on that here 13.55 More on the Haka. An email from Jack Waiting for the haka, just to see if any English players shorts are stained Oh Jack. Really?

13.50 Steve Hansen refutes a lengthy, Garth Crooks-esque question about New Zealand maybe blowing England away in the first few minutes. "Aw look, it's an 80-minute game he says." Other things being politely but firmly refuted: a) match as a World Cup indicator, b) how rain might impact on the result, c) more or less everything. 13.45 Talking of Richie McCaw, here is Oliver Brown answering the question: " What makes the New Zealand captain the world's greatest player ? Richie McCaw was very nearly a Rhodes Scholar. When Phil Gifford, a columnist for the Sunday Star-Times in Auckland, attended a dinner at the All Blacks captain’s alma mater of Lincoln University in Canterbury, he was told by one professor that the young McCaw, who read agricultural science, was not simply an “A student - he was an A-plus student”. The combination of academic and sporting prowess exemplified by this farmer’s son from the Hakataramea Valley was the precise blend prized by the Cecil Rhodes committee, who each year would reward 10 of New Zealand’s brightest and best with generous bursaries for postgraduate study at Oxford.

McCaw, who admits he continues to reproach himself for scoring 99.4 per cent rather than 100 in his sixth-form maths exam, appeared the type of model perfectionist they craved. After all, he can still remember the one question he got wrong. It was, he recalled to Greg McGee as they worked on his autobiography The Real McCaw, a diagram of a circle with a hexagon inside it. All he needed to do was to calculate how much of the circle remained once the six-sided shape was removed. Dutifully he went through his workings for the radius and tangents but forgot, would you believe, to multiply the result by six. McCaw can forgive certain human shortcomings, but never a lapse in concentration. That rare moment of scrambled judgment has become, in his head, a needling thorn, rather like the second-ball duck that cost Sir Donald Bradman the chance of a career Test average of 100. It despoiled a potentially pristine record, and McCaw’s achievements ever since read like one long attempt to atone for letting the chance slip.

13.41 Fitzpatrick: "We always say, prepare as if you are the number two team." And here is McCaw himself, also sounding calm and totally determined. I have to say, if England had any thoughts that the New Zealanders might be complacement look forlorn indeed to me. 13.37 Sean Fitzpatrick: "A real respect is being shown to England. Playing at Twickenham, at the home of rugby, is what NZ rugby players play for. I asked Richie McCaw what was his most memorable match: he said losing in 2012 to England at Twickenham." Sounds like he will be wanting to put that right... 13.35 Sir Clive Woodward: "This is the pinnacle, we build up for these matches against the Southern Hemisphere teams." 13.34 Jonny Wilkinson: "The challenge is letting the performace come out. It is stressful, the build up [to a NZ match]." 13.33 Chris Robshaw "feels like a long time since we have been back here, it is fantastic.

If you switch off for a split-second they can hurt you." 13.32 England missing ten front-line players. The Kiwi captain has played more games that England's entire backline. You want to talk about a gulf of experience. 13.30 Sky's coverage begins with a pre-recorded feature on Stuart Lancaster. Lots of portentous music and echo on his words... "You don't play for England. You represent England." 13.25 Just over an hour to go until kick-off. &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Will Greenwood - During &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#ENGvNZL&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; type &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#AskGreens&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and fire me puzzlers on the game for your chance to feature in a Q&amp;amp;amp;A &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;@TelegraphSport&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; video!

&amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#TryTracker&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#IBM&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 13.20 And here's England scrum-half Danny Care with his thoughts on the exciting, daunting task head. The amazing Semesa Rokoduguni and the presence in the stands of four-week old Blake make match against the All Blacks a special occasion I had not met Semesa Rokoduguni properly until we came into camp last week and I can tell you he is not only an incredible character but also a fantastic talent. I cannot wait to see him play on Saturday. He is the type of player who, when he gets the ball, everyone gets excited and I think he will get a few people off their seats when he gets a chance to show what he can do. I got chatting with him on Tuesday about what life was like in the Army. He told me about driving a tank – I think there are six gears for going forward and six for reverse. Maybe one day he might give me a spin in one.

He said when the season finishes with Bath he will be straight back to Germany with his unit – they are keeping him constantly updated with what is going on. At the end of the season I go on holiday for two weeks and argue that I do not get enough time off. Semesa goes off potentially to fight for the Army. It is just unbelievable to think he does that. If a war broke out, he would be gone, that is his job. He is as proud as any Englishman born and bred here. All he wants to do is wear the red rose and put his life on the line to serve this country. It will be an emotional day for me as my four-week-old son, Blake, is going to be in the stands at Twickenham. My partner, Jodie, will have him kitted out in a little England shirt and shoes. He has picked a big game to start with so there is no pressure on his dad to perform! 13.10 A nice piece from Daniel Schofield on New Zealand prop Wyatt Crockett here. Bitter experience has taught Wyatt Crockett the best place for a loosehead prop to operate is in the shadows.

Even though he has a crucial job on Saturday to nullify the much heavier England tighthead David Wilson at Twickenham, the All Black says he will be happiest if his contribution goes unnoticed. While all-action figures such as Schalk Brits, the Saracens hooker, have changed the paradigm of what is expected of front-rowers, Crockett knows his job is effectively to be the roadie to the rock stars of the team. Hence he will get through a mountain of work in the loose without garnering even a passing mention. At scrum time, his role is clearly defined: make sure the ball gets in and out as quickly and smoothly as possible so the 8-9-10 axis of Kieran Read, Aaron Smith and Aaron Cruden can wreak havoc with front-foot ball. 13.00 He and Eastmond, who was born in the not-quite-so-exotic environs of Oldham, have their work cut out today. Conor O'Shea writes for The Telegraph: The All Blacks are almost certain to target England's midfield and England also need to make sure defensively that they don't give NZ any time or space.

12.50 Barritt was born in Durban and had risen quite a long way up the Springbok set-up. He played for RSA in the final of the Under-21 World Cup and played for Emerging Springboks (ie the B team). Martin Johnson then picked him for England Saxons in 2009 and the rest is history. He's had 16 caps so far. 12.41 Good TV interview with England's centre pairing Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond, of whom Will Greenwood later says: "I am confident that they can perform extermely well but will that be good enough to beat the All Blacks?" 12.39 This interview with Graham Rowntree from yesterday, featuring the unusual combination of roaring fire and shorts. 12.30 And in this vid, New Zealand's Israel Dagg talks about the Englishmen lining up against him and his mates today. 12.25 Here is our preview of the New Zealand team, with England's Anthony Watson. 12.15 The teams will be thus.

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Danny Care; 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett 12.05 Magnificent. Features a brilliant joke at the end, after the poem, as well. "Who's the Picasso then?" I said... So yes. Llanelli 9 New Zealand 3.

What a day that must have been. But the stats are against England pulling off an upset of their own. Here's Oliver Pickup with the lowdown on the size of the task facing Stuart Lancaster and company : It has become something of a tradition, ahead of a New Zealand visit to the hallowed turf of Twickenham, for rugby experts in the British media to gee up the troops and attempt to demystify – and denounce – the All Blacks' aura. "They are only human," they collectively rally. For a while such rousing, chest-thumping comments make you believe the Red Rose can prick the antipodean world champions' bubble ... before the No1-ranked team in the world since 2009 blow you away with their rapier-like rugby, leading many to label them the best team to have every played the sport. 11.55 What are your best memories of watching the All Blacks? Max Boyce's poem is probably my favourite thing about NZ and rugby. 11.45 Morning all. Alan Tyers here. I'm going early on my Haka. It's quite a sight. Welcome and thanks for joining us for this exciting match.

Special memorial lamp chop to Fiona, our first emailer of the day, who writes: A good haka is worth five points before the game is even started. Maybe they should award points for pre-match rituals, get a bit of a Strictly Come Dancing vibe going on. "Congratulations Scotland, you start with a four point advantage after that wonderful Gay Gordon." Could work. I'll get back to you on that. ---- Alan will be doing his haka around 1.15pm and will be taking his seat to bring you all the build-up from Twickers. In the meantime why not have a read of Sir Ian McGeechan's interview with the man with the easiest job in rugby: Steve Hansen, coach of the All Blacks ... The last time I had the chance to chat rugby with Steve Hansen, we were on an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland for an International Rugby Board conference after the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Hansen was coaching Wales and I was coaching Scotland, and we talked about how the game might move forward in the northern hemisphere, about how fitness, lifestyle and skill levels simply had to improve. Well, much has happened since then.

Hansen was assistant coach to Graham Henry when New Zealand won the 2011 RWC and has since taken over as head coach. Remarkably, he has lost just two Tests in 39 since then. But has much changed in Hansen’s philosophy towards coaching? “Not really,” he says. “If you get them fit enough and skilled enough you can play with a bit of intensity.” It might seem a simplistic way of describing the excellence of the All Blacks, but such an approach resonates so strongly with me, about keeping the simplicity and the clarity so the players can then repeatedly be in good places ready to make good calls. “Our job is to make the complex simple,” Hansen says. “The simpler you can make it for somebody, the easier it is to do it.” Selecting an All-Time Best England XV | Bleacher Report Selecting an All-Time Best England XV By Tom Sunderland , Featured Columnist Dec 11, 2013 Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow David Rogers/Getty Images 7 Comments As one of the most decorated rugby nations in history, England have welcomed a plethora of world-class talent through their halls throughout the years from numbers one to 15 and back again.

Here, we've taken a look at some of the most talented players ever to don the red rose, building a dream line-up of English titans. Unsurprisingly, a number of members from the 2003 World Cup-winning team have managed to make their way into England's all-time XV, but there are a number of less obvious inclusions within. Read on for a trip down memory lane, celebrating some of the greatest England bastions, none of whom time will forget. 1. Jason Leonard Bruno Vincent/Getty Images The most capped English player of all time, Jason Leonard made a staggering 114 appearances for the English national team in a 14-year span between 1990 and 2004. The prop began his career with Saracens but will be most fondly remembered at club level for his time at Harlequins. Able to play in both loosehead and tighthead positions, Leonard was an ever-present force for England during most of the 1990s and journeyed on three British and Irish Lions tours, as well as coming on as a substitute in the 2003 World Cup final triumph.

Tweet Having since gone on to make a highly successful career for himself in punditry and match analysis, it's sometimes easy to forget what a presence Brian Moore was in the jersey, not just commenting on others from afar. Beating Steve Thompson to a place in the line-up, "Pitbull" was a flag-bearer of the English pack in the early '90s, as learned as they come in the art of gamesmanship, frustrating most oppositions he'd face. Moore's talents transferred to the game with ball in hand, however, and his stout presence hid a far more agile creature, as proficient in open play as he was at the set piece. Tweet Born and raised as the son of a farming family in Devon, Phil Vickery's physical assets were what laid the path for an extremely prolific playing career at both club and international level. In 2010, the prop legend was forced into a slightly early retirement due to recurring neck injuries, but a then 34-year-old Vickery had already stamped his mark on the game, a part of the 2003 World Cup squad and a two-time British and Irish Lion.

Tweet Bill Beaumont's 34 Test caps for England were at one stage a record sum for a lock, 21 of those appearances coming as captain for the national team. The second row's proudest achievement came when he managed to lead England to a shock Grand Slam win in the 1980 Five Nations, the team having not seen such a feat for 23 years. Beaumont's qualities in the loose weren't what set him apart from the rest, but a work rate unlike many others and a distinct tact in leadership were. Tweet Partnering Beaumont is another second row force who's name will forever be synonymous with England's success as the captain of that historic World Cup triumph in 2003, Martin Johnson. If his achievements at Leicester Tigers weren't enough to propel the lock into England fame, the former England manager's exploits on the international stage certainly were, Johnson earning 84 caps for his national side in a decade-long tenure. At club level, the 43-year-old's titanic Tigers team of the late 90s and early 2000s won back-to-back Heineken Cups, not to mention four Premiership medals. 6.

Richard Hill David Rogers/Getty Images One of the most understated figures of the 2003 squad, Richard Hill's contributions to the national team unfairly go unheralded when compared with the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Martin Johnson. A classic case of a flanker's work at the breakdown often going unseen, the former Saracens stalwart consistently drained his opposition of their energy with fine work across the pitch, offering his teammates support in the loose and an exemplary presence to have around in the scrappier aspects of the game. 7. Peter Winterbottom Russell Cheyne/Getty Images A shining example of what the modern day openside should aim to emulate, Peter Winterbottom proved to be the downfall of many a fly-half in his day, timing and precision tackles around the fringes being among his biggest qualities. The journeyman played for Harlequins on native shores, but he would also go on to feature in New Zealand and South Africa as his career progressed. Winterbottom featured in two British and Irish Lions tours, in 1983 and again a decade later, in the meantime becoming just the second ever Englishman to win 50 caps.

The veteran's best work predominantly came when he didn't have the ball, a defensive icon among back rowers. Tweet Widely regarded as one of the best back rowers to have graced the sport, any moments of controversy outside of Lawrence Dallaglio's playing days were paved over by one of the most glittering careers an England forward has ever produced. Now a pundit and BT Sport analyst, Dallaglio's technical know-how is being put to good use in the media, a decade after he helped Johnson's team to 2003 glory. Winning more than 80 caps in a 12-year England career, the only thing more spectacular than Dallaglio's ability was the fact that he was able to prolong those standards for so long, leading London Wasps from 1990 to 2008. 9. Matt Dawson Chris McGrath/Getty Images It would have taken a considerable man to lead what some would describe as the most talented English pack of all time, so it's ironic that the small package of Matt Dawson was the man to deliver the goods between the late '90s and early '00s.

Possessing a penchant to score tries but above all else providing his back line with a constant supply of good, quick ball, the half-back was undoubtedly one of the most important components in England's 2003 triumph. During his career, Northampton and Wasps benefited mostly from Dawson's talents at club level, with no other English scrum-half possessing quite the same awareness in clutch situations. Tweet Arguably the most recognisable player ever to have worn the white of England, Jonny Wilkinson is the only player included in our XV who's happened to maintain his playing career to the present day, and what a career it's been. The highest England international points scorer of all time, the 34-year-old has notched more than 1,150 points for the nation in a 13-year career in the No. 10 jersey. To put that statistic into context, the next highest points scorer for England is Paul Grayson, who only managed 400 in his international stint, almost three times less than the Toulon technician.

Famed for his kicking prowess, Wilkinson is also renowned for being able to use both feet despite being naturally left-footed and it was with the fly-half's right boot that he sent over the infamous match-winning drop goal against Australia in the 2003 World Cup final. 12. Mike Catt David Rogers/Getty Images As intelligent a back as they come, Mike Catt's knowledge of the sport meant that he was a threat not only in the centre, but from fly-half, full-back and off the wing, too. Now passing that information on as part of Stuart Lancaster's England staff, it's good to see that such a smart maestro of the midfield isn't going to waste in his retirement. Admittedly, the likes of Jeremy Guscott and Will Greenwood may feel they're missing out as a result of Catt's inclusion, but while the former Bath star never reached the same heights in international colours, his ability to adapt and quality in making those around him look better as a result earn Catt a berth. 13.

Will Carling David Rogers/Getty Images As famous for his personal dealings off the pitch as he was for his dealings on it, controversial Will Carling remains one of the most gifted backs ever to play for England, captaining the team for eight of his nine years as an international. In 1988, the centre became England's youngest ever captain at just 22 years of age, but would grow into the responsibility and won three Five Nations Grand Slams, as well as leading the team to the final of the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Playing outside Guscott for a great deal of his career, Carling was at the forefront of an England team that enjoyed one of its most successful eras under his command. 14. Rory Underwood David Rogers/Getty Images The highest-ever England try scorer, Rory Underwood's record of 49 scores in just 85 caps is the kind of prolific nature that ensures the older of the Underwood brothers will never be forgotten for his services to the national cause.

As well as being a Royal Air Force pilot, the Middlesborough-born winger played in three Rugby World Cups between 1987 and 1995, as well as travelling with the British and Irish Lions on two of the tours during that time. The Leicester Tigers legend remains the most-capped England back of all time and would be considered one of the best finishers in rugby history, able to make magic out of nothing with a tap of his heels. Tweet It's difficult to sum up Jason Robinson's skill set with an adjective other than "fast," considering the rugby league convert may be the quickest player ever to play for the England national side. An inch of space and Robinson would exploit it, able to turn on the afterburners in the slightest of seconds, scoring 28 tries in 51 outings for his country. It was Robinson who scored England's only try of the 2003 Rugby World Cup final and while some might say that his best input came from the wing, his substantial pace made sure that he was a major threat even when coming from further back.

Question: Who is the youngest Englishman to score 30 points in a Rugby Union International match?
Answer: JONNY WILKINSON