Summary

  • England beat New Zealand 36-18 in Denver, USA

  • England trailed 12-0 but scored six tries to seal victory

  • Hall & Whitehead tries in first half

  • Bateman, Makinson, Connor & Whitehead tries in second half

  • Watene-Zelezniak (2) and Marsters score NZ tries

  • Match at altitude in hot conditions

Live Reporting

Phil Cartwright

  1. Get Involved

    #bbcrl or text 81111

    Silent Otto: Elliott Whitehead is playing a blinder.

    Dr Stephen Fawcett: Regarding the appetite for rugby in Devon, Exeter are one of the best union teams in the country so that might have something to do with it.

    England celebrateSWpix

  2. PENALTY: England 12-12 New Zealand

    Gareth Widdop

    No mistake from Gareth Widdop this time, and we're all square again in Colorado.

  3. 'That is a bit cheap'

    England 10-12 New Zealand

    John Kear
    Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Two

    He knows what he is doing and that is 10 minutes for me. That is a bit cheap. He should be sat down for 10 minutes so his team suffers.

  4. England 10-12 New Zealand

    That's a bit naughty from Issac Luke.

    The New Zealand hooker stands on the hand of John Bateman with the England man on the deck, and it looked intentional.

    Referee Ben Thaler has a word, but nothing further.

    England still in promising position. They're going to kick for goal this time.

    Issac Luke hand stampBBC Sport

  5. England 10-12 New Zealand

    Kiwi full-back Dallin Watene-Zelezniak does well to claim a high Gareth Widdop kick, and gets a glancing blow on the head from Sam Burgess for his troubles.

    No penalty given, and from the restart Elliott Whitehead does brilliantly to restore possession for England.

    Now England have a penalty 10 metres from the Kiwi line, which they're going to tap...

  6. England 10-12 New Zealand

    New Zealand's first set of the second half comes to nothing. Elliott Whitehead makes a good intervention to cause his opponent to lose the ball.

  7. Get Involved

    #bbcrl or text 81111

    Great idea to spread the word of rugby league in USA but why not spread it a bit more in England?! Since moving from Yorkshire to Devon over 15 years ago I have not met anyone down here who can name me a current rugby league player but the appetite for union is huge, surely there's potential?

    Lee, Honiton

  8. Kick-off

    England 10-12 New Zealand

    As the TV cameras pick out film star and rugby league fan Russell Crowe in the crowd in Denver, England full-back Stefan Ratchford gets the second half under way.

    England trail by two points.

  9. HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    Justin Holbrook
    St Helens head coach on BBC Two

    I think the second half is going to open up in these conditions.

  10. 'England are in a great spot'

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    Jon Wilkin
    Former England forward on BBC Two

    England are in a great spot, but it could have been 18-0. Scott Taylor's tackle could be massive.

    For England to win this game they need to make their tackles. They need a good 20-25 minutes.

  11. Get Involved

    #bbcrl or text 81111

    Tulsen Tollett: Small things. England are right in this at 12-10 now and if they cut down the missed tackles and complete their sets the win is there for the taking. New Zealand will tire and try the odd impossible play so need to be patient.

    Tim Galsworthy: England’s bench has absolutely changed the game. Connor, Burgess, Makinson and Taylor have all come on and had a big impact.

    Would have to agree, Tim. I've been really impressed with Jake Connor particularly, while Scott Taylor made a key try-saving tackle when England were 12-0 down.

  12. try

    WATCH: Whitehead scores England's second

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    And England got to within two points with this try from Elliott Whitehead...

    Elliott Whitehead scores England's second try

  13. try

    WATCH: Hall grabs England's first try

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    Ryan Hall's acrobatic finish in the corner got England back on track...

    England get one back with their first try

  14. try

    WATCH: Watene-Zelezniak scores second try

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    That lead was doubled by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak...

    Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scores New Zealand's second try

  15. try

    WATCH: Marsters scores first try

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    Let's go through some of the key moments of the first half in Denver, starting with the Kiwis' first score from Esan Marsters...

    Esan Marsters gives New Zealand the lead

  16. 'England had to stick in'

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    Jon Wilkin
    Former England forward on BBC Two

    There was a point 25 minutes in when England looked completely drained, but what we saw was England really stick in. From that point England got the ball in hand. England have been really solid.

  17. HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    Brian Noble
    Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

    I think it has been a super first half. England grew into the game.

  18. 'A decent reflection'

    HT: England 10-12 New Zealand

    John Kear
    Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Two

    12-10 is a decent reflection for the first half. England started well and fought back but the middle was very much New Zealand. It is virtually even.

  19. Half-time: England 10-12 New Zealand

    And with that, the hooter sounds.

    We've seen an impressive comeback by England, who fell 12-0 down to two fairly soft tries.

    Scores from Ryan Hall and Elliott Whitehead have reduced the deficit to two points.

    Ryan HallSWpix

  20. England 10-12 New Zealand

    John Kear
    Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Two

    They timed it so well. He carried it so well and hit the gap so hard. He finished it really well.