New Zealand v England LIVE rugby: Latest score and updates as tourists face the All Blacks in summer Test

England face New Zealand in Dunedin this morning in the first of two summer internationals against the All Blacks.

Steve Borthwick’s side enter the two-game series off the back of a 52-17 win in a warm-up game against Eddie Jones’ Japan team, with the Red Roses running in eight tries against their former head coach.

Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell and Chandler Cunningham-South were all impressive on the day, though a far sterner test awaits them as they take on the might of New Zealand on their home turf.

The All Blacks are a team in transition following the appointment of Scott Robertson as their new head coach, but this is still a unit that only fell to a narrow World Cup final defeat just nine months ago.

Follow all the updates from New Zealand vs England below:

Summer Internationals: New Zealand v England

KICK OFF!
England face the All Blacks in Dunedin in the first of two summer Tests | Live on Sky Sports Main Event
Steve Borthwick’s side enter the match off the back of a 52-17 victory against Japan in late June
New head coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson leads the All Blacks for the first time
Veteran scrum half TJ Perenara returns to a familiar All Blacks side
England swap props with two potential debutants on the bench

New Zealand 0-0 England, 13 minutes

08:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A free kick against the All Blacks front row as they put the weight on too soon. That makes England’s clearing of their lines straightforward.

New Zealand 0-0 England, 11 minutes

08:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But that’s a touch profligate from the All Blacks. Dalton Papali’i bursts away from the maul but can’t make many metres, and Ardie Savea fumbles as he tries to pick and drive.

New Zealand 0-0 England, 10 minutes

08:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A statement scrum! Ethan de Groot gets the congratulatory head taps after driving Will Stuart back. New Zealand fancy the corner; Jordie Barrett finds it

New Zealand 0-0 England, 9 minutes

08:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Better at scrum time from New Zealand, getting a nudge on and allowing Damian McKenzie to clear. That’s less pretty from England’s set piece, Jamie George making a complete mess of his throw with his jumpers getting their set-up wrong, too. Hmm.

Steve Borthwick and attack coach Richard Wigglesworth study the footage intently on their laptop. There’s no Kevin Sinfield in the coaches’ box today with the rugby league great back in England for Rob Burrow’s funeral.

New Zealand 0-0 England, 8 minutes

08:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s a thumping start in Dunedin. England blitz up on New Zealand’s inside backs and Henry Slade gets to Jordie Barrett, sending his pass splatting into the deck. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso gathers and gallops for glory, but Slade’s hand had knocked on in contact. Some fascinating battles between the blitz and the All Blacks’ attack.

Missed penalty! New Zealand 0-0 England, 6 minutes

08:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ah. Not the start that Marcus Smith will have wanted, tugging his attempt from right of centre wide of the left-hand upright. It was 40 metres out but that’ll disappoint Smith.

New Zealand 0-0 England, 4 minutes

08:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jamie George hits Chandler Cunningham-South at the tail of the lineout, but opposite number Samipeni Finau thrusts a paw between Cunningham-South’s grasping fingers and jars the ball free. Alex Mitchell fumbles on the floor.

A first scrum entanglement. Down it goes immediately…penalty England. Nika Amashukeli is quick to his whistle with Tyrel Lomax deemed to have gone straight to deck. Marcus Smith points at the posts.

New Zealand 0-0 England, 2 minutes

08:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Variety from New Zealand, Stephen Perofeta lifting a crossfield kick. It’s not quite right, but that’s always an option when you face a blitz defence like England’s; the All Blacks have used it well against South Africa in the past.

New Zealand 0-0 England, 1 minute

08:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Alex Mitchell takes the opening kick off and boots long to Jordie Barrett, allowing the All Blacks into their work in attack. New Zealand get outside England’s blitz defence but a weaving Mark Tele’a is stripped in contact.

England try to exlpore the edges but a poor pass is dropped by Tommy Freeman. It’ll be the visitors’ lienout, though, as Samipeni Finau is biffed into touch.

KICK OFF!

08:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle

NEW ZEALAND VS ENGLAND IS UNDERWAY!

Match officials

08:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nika Amashukeli of Georgia is our referee today, assisted by a couple of Aussies in Nic Berry and Jordan Way. Frenchman Eric Gauzins is on hand in the TMO truck if (when) required.

Here we go. England seeking just a third win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.

Haka

08:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle

TJ Perenara leads the haka, hidden in a circle of All Blacks. England stand arm-in-arm, swaying in anticipation and staring out New Zealand as they spread into formation to lay down the challenge.

New Zealand vs England

08:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Anthem time, a few English voices making themselves heard among the black sea of New Zealand shirts in the stands. “God Defend New Zealand” gets rather more punchy backing.

New Zealand vs England

07:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Out charge the England players, Marcus Smith testing his change of direction by zigging and zagging right across the Dunedin surface. It’s been a confident camp this week, with England feeling like they’ve got a real opportunity to lay down a marker.

Scott Barrett leads New Zealand out for the first time as All Blacks skipper, followed out by brothers Jordie and Beauden. A proud day for an extraordinary family.

New Zealand vs England

07:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The Glasshouse is full pretty much to the rafters, the Dunedin public out in force to fill Forsyth Barr Stadium. Intriguingly, the All Blacks were suggesting early this week that the enclosed stadium might suit England more, playing a few mind games with Steve Borthwick’s men.

The two sets of players slap hands in the dressing rooms before preparing for their emergence, the All Blacks in their rather fetching new kits with prominent white collars.

Jamie George urging England to embrace chance to claim rare win in New Zealand

07:52 , Luke Baker

Jamie George insists England are ready to impose themselves on New Zealand and play their part in a weekend of high-stakes sport.

England are aiming to triumph on Kiwi soil for only the third time in a history spanning 16 matches and 61 years when they collide with the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday morning.

Martin Johnson’s 2003 tourists were the last team to take the sport’s most prized scalp with each of the seven Tests since ending in defeat for the Red Rose.

George believes that toppling the All Blacks would set the tone for England’s football team when they face Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals later in the same day.

Jamie George urging England to embrace chance to claim rare win in New Zealand

Stephen Perofeta gets a chance

07:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Back when he was coming through age grade rugby, Stephen Perofeta was nicknamed “Pero-future”, a nod to the sky-high potential many felt he possessed. The path since hasn’t always been smooth since he guided a dominant New Zealand side to a 64-17 victory over their English counterparts at the 2017 U20s World Championship, Perofeta flitting between fly half and full-back and often in the shadow of the All Blacks’ amazing array of play-making options.

But two years on from earning his first three caps, now feels like it might be Perofeta’s time. It feels a bold call from Scott Robertson to start the 27-year-old ahead of Beauden Barrett but the new All Blacks boss is hoping that his full-back carries the sharpness from a strong end to the Super Rugby Pacific season with the champion Blues.

“Obviously the experience of 123 Tests counts for a lot, but Stephen Perofeta is also a guy who is in form, good around the high ball and playing great footy,” Robertson said.

“Just two weeks ago he was playing in a Test-match level game in a final. Beauden can play his part covering both 10 and 15. When you’ve got Beauden Barrett on the bench it’s pretty special.”

England’s two new faces: Prolific Ollie Sleightholme earns his opportunity

07:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ollie Sleightholme, meanwhile, could have done little more to force his way into Borthwick’s squad. The son of 12-cap wing Jon, the 24-year-old topped the try scoring charts in the Premiership this season, showcasing real finishing nous to go along with his natural speed and ability to breach contact. His defensive ability also merits mention, both for his work shutting down the edge and as a breakdown scavenger.

“Clearly his point of difference is to beat defenders and find the try line,” Borthwick explained. “The top try-scorer in the Premiership, he has incredible pace and we want that in this England team. The other thing is he’s a very effective defender.

“You can see how important this defensive system has been to us, over just five games in the Six Nations. And we see him fitting into that system very, very well.”

England’s two new faces: Fin Baxter set for debut

07:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It may have been that Fin Baxter travelled on tour had Ellis Genge been fit, but the Bristol loosehead’s calf issue has opened the door for the 22-year-old to earn a first cap today. The prop protégé of Joe Marler at Harlequins, Baxter also counts Alex Corbisiero as an influence having come through the same Cobham club as another of England’s most destructive looseheads.

His scrummaging work has come on quickly working with Marler and scrum coach Adam Jones at Quins, with Baxter taking it to the giant Ben Tameifuna in his side’s Champions Cup win over Bordeaux-Begles. He also prides himself on the softer skills as a distributor at the line.

“I’m really proud of the year I’ve had,” Baxter said recently. “I’m loving being in this environment and getting myself up to Test level.”

Harlequins youngster Fin Baxter is set for a debut (Getty Images)

Talking points ahead of New Zealand v England

07:24 , Luke Baker

Marcus Smith’s moment of truth

If ever there was a moment for Marcus Smith to prove he is England’s principal fly-half it comes in Dunedin.

Smith was electric in the tour opener in Tokyo a fortnight earlier, but the space provided by Japan’s defence was a gift to a player with his attacking repertoire.

New Zealand will be far less accommodating, but if Smith’s decision-making and game management match his creativity with the ball in hand, the jersey will be his for the foreseeable future.

Talking points ahead of New Zealand v England

07:14 , Luke Baker

Chinks in armour

The All Blacks are heavy favourites to triumph at Forsyth Barr Stadium, yet they have rarely appeared so vulnerable.

Their first outing of the year takes place under a new head coach and captain in Scott Robertson and Scott Barrett respectively, while influential stalwarts such as Richie Mo’unga, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith have either retired or are on sabbaticals in Japan.

Factor in player unrest with administrators and the Crusaders fading as the dominant force in Super Rugby and it seems to be a good time to be facing the World Cup runners-up.

Talking points ahead of New Zealand v England

07:04 , Luke Baker

The ultimate challenge

England wins against New Zealand on Kiwi soil are precious and have been managed only twice before – in 1973 and 2003.

Since Martin Johnson’s team prevailed against the odds over two decades ago, England have played seven more times in the All Blacks’ back yard and got close only once, a 20-15 defeat in Auckland in 2014.

South Africa are world champions, but outside the global showpiece winning a Test series in New Zealand is the sport’s ultimate challenge.

England’s answer to Ardie Savea can inspire thrilling series with All Blacks

06:53 , Luke Baker

It is a little over 60 years now since England embarked on their first Antipodean adventure, a squad led by Mike Weston following previous French, Scottish and Irish tours to make a belated arrival in the Southern Hemisphere in 1963. A gruelling schedule had been organised by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in New Zealand and Australia. England returned after little more than a fortnight battered, bruised and beaten in five of their six matches.

England have seldom found Aotearoa to their liking on their returns to the Shaky Isles since. Their infrequent visits to New Zealand have been cloaked in a long white cloud of English defeats and off-field bother. It is 20 years since the All Blacks were last beaten by England on home soil, and it was a 30-year winning run for the hosts before that. That the teams contest a prize named after Sir Edmund Hillary feels appropriate.

“It doesn’t get more challenging than playing New Zealand at home, but it’s exactly where we want to be,” England head coach Steve Borthwick said ahead of the first of a two-Test series that begins in Dunedin on Saturday.

“We want to find out more about ourselves and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world. Test rugby is a game of fine margins, so our mindset is going to be very important on Saturday. We’ll need to be mentally strong, play a tactically smart game and ensure we maintain our discipline.”

Read Harry Latham-Coyle’s full preview of a fascinating series:

England’s answer to Ardie Savea can inspire thrilling series with All Blacks

Marcus Smith urges England to ‘show the best of themselves’ against New Zealand

06:42 , Luke Baker

Marcus Smith is ready for England’s growing confidence in attack to meet its toughest examination yet when they face New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.

Steve Borthwick’s side opened the tour by running in eight tries against Japan a fortnight ago, with the 52-17 victory continuing the theme born in the Guinness Six Nations of greater intent being shown with the ball in hand.

Even though World Cup finalists New Zealand are being remodelled by new head coach Scott Robertson, they will still provide a gauge of just how far England’s attack has come.

Harlequins fly-half Smith will pull the strings at Forsyth Barr Stadium believing he will be directing a team that is improving in multiple areas.

Marcus Smith urges England to ‘show the best of themselves’ against New Zealand

England team news

06:31 , Luke Baker

Props Joe Marler and Will Stuart swap into the England side in the only changes to the starting line-up that beat Japan.

Marcus Smith retains the reins at fly half while two uncapped players await debuts from the bench in Harlequins loosehead Fin Baxter and Northampton wing Ollie Sleightholme.

England XV: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George (capt.), 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin; 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Marcus Smith; 11 Tommy Freeman, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; 15 George Furbank.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry; 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholme.

New Zealand team news

06:22 , Luke Baker

New All Blacks captain Scott Barrett leads a strong and experienced New Zealand side, but elder brother Beauden is left on the bench as Stephen Perofeta is preferred at full-back.

Veteran scrum half TJ Perenara returns having missed the World Cup due to injury, while one-cap flanker Samipeni Finau is a newer face.

New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Scott Barrett (capt.), 5 Patrick Tuipulotu; 6 Samipeni Finau, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 8 Ardie Savea; 9 TJ Perenara, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Mark Tele’a, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Sevu Reece; 15 Stephen Perofeta

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Luke Jacobson; 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett

How to watch the All Blacks v England

06:15 , Luke Baker

The first Test is due to kick off at 8.05am BST on Saturday 6 July at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action, with coverage on the channels from 7.30am BST. Subscribers can stream via Sky Go.

If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

Everything you need to know about New Zealand v England

06:07 , Luke Baker

England will spy an opportunity against a new-look All Blacks side as they take on New Zealand in the first match of a two-Test series.

Steve Borthwick’s men warmed up for the trip with a confidence-boosting thrashing of Japan, and have had plenty of preparation time since travelling south.

The All Blacks begin a new era under head coach Scott Robertson as they return to action for the first time since the World Cup final defeat to South Africa.

It is ten years since these two met on New Zealand soil, making this a series to savour.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Is New Zealand v England on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch first Test