Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson kicked four penalties and a field goal Saturday as England edged the All Blacks 15-13 to enhance its status as rugby union's No. 1 nation and collect its first win in New Zealand in three decades.
England, briefly reduced to 13 men when loose forward Neil Back and Lawrence Dalaglio were sin-binned, conceded the game's only try but clung gallantly to its top-ranking.
"It was heroic. To hold on with 13 was defensively outstanding," England coach Clive Woodward said in a post-match TV interview. "It was gutsy, and the team were brilliant.
PHOTO: AP
"To play well against these guys, back-to-back wins over New Zealand, that's brilliant."
New Zealand spent more than 70 percent of the match inside England's half and commanded 54 percent of possession. For all its advantages, the All Blacks spent their best efforts against a rocklike defense and managed only the one five-pointer to fullback Doug Howlett, midway through the second.
The match was dominated by the eccentric refereeing of Australia's Stuart Dickinson who awarded 33 penalties -- 20 against England -- and who left England with 13 players for seven minutes in the second half.
Back went first in the 47th minute and Dalaglio joined him three minutes later, leaving England desperately undermanned. Even in those desperate circumstances, England's defense refused to yield.
Veteran captain Martin Johnson rallied his team conspicuously, winning lineout ball, leading drives and tackling relentlessly as New Zealand struggled to capitalize on the English handicap.
"It was not our best performance but we won it and not many British teams have won here," Johnson said. "When they scored their try perhaps people thought that we'd crack but we didn't. The last 20 minutes were just about lasting out."
Howlett's try came in the 63rd minute when England had been returned to full strength.
The former wing dispelled doubts about his ability to cope under pressure at fullback when he safely claimed a high kick and initiated the counterattack which resulted in his try.
Howlett handed a quick pass to wing Caleb Ralph, debut center Ma'a Nonu carried play on and flyhalf Carlos Spencer, spotting a hole behind the English defense, placed a kick deep downfield.
Howlett sprinted up in support of the kick and won the race to the bounce just ahead of the English tryline. He scored, Spencer converted and the All Blacks, after trailing 15-6, closed within two points.
But Spencer missed a subsequent penalty, the All Blacks' last definite scoring opportunity, and England held on to their two-point margin.
While Wilkinson kicked four penalties from five attempts, one from the sideline and another from 50 meters, Spencer managed only two goals from five attempts.
"We had our chances but England didn't let us get any flow going," said All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne. "Every time we got together a couple of phases, they got into us and we turned it over.
"They put us under pressure and moved their defensive line up very quickly."
Thorne said England's victory was a tribute to its determination and experience. The English team brought to the match a total of more than 400 test caps while New Zealand numbered fewer than half that.
The All Blacks' territorial advantage was greater in the first half than in the second. They spent 75 percent of the opening spell in English territory but managed only six points from two Spencer penalties. Wilkinson also kicked two goals from England's brief ventures into the All Black half.
The English hadn't beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since 1973 and had never before recorded back-to-back wins against the New Zealanders. Coming after a 31-28 win at Twickenham last year, England has improved to six wins against New Zealand in 25 tests.
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