England scored 78 points against Japan. The All Blacks lost to Wales for the first time since 1953. They meet at Twickenham on Saturday with a place in the Nations Championship final at stake.
“Well, they’re [New Zealand] violent after a defeat,” Japan coach Eddie Jones said after England beat his side 78–15 on 14 November, as quoted by Michael Cantillon of Sky Sports. “They’re usually violent, very physical.”
Will Joseph scored five tries that day. In Cardiff, Wales beat New Zealand 35–28, ending 34 straight All Blacks wins over the Welsh.
England v New Zealand kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 21 November at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (3.10am Sunday in New Zealand). Australian Nic Berry referees. Who wins, and by how much?
Eddie Jones: ‘Back To The Old New Zealand’
Jones added: “New Zealand next week, they’ll be back to the old New Zealand. They’ll be hard and tough, and physical around the breakdown.” The breakdown is the contest for the ball after a tackle. More in our Eddie Jones and Will Joseph story.
What Rennie And Barrett Said After Cardiff
Dave Rennie admitted his side “got out-passioned” by Wales. “We expect a lot more of ourselves and need to see a response at Twickenham next week,” the All Blacks head coach said.
Full-back Beauden Barrett called the defeat a “tough one to take”, and said the Cardiff crowd made it feel like Wales were “playing with 16 or 17”.
What Is At Stake In The Nations Championship Table?
Only each table’s winner reaches the final at Twickenham on 29 November. New Zealand lead the Southern Hemisphere table on 22 points, one ahead of South Africa, with one game each left.
A win is worth four points. Bonus points go for scoring four or more tries and for losing by seven or fewer, which is how New Zealand took two from Cardiff.
A bonus-point win guarantees the All Blacks top spot. Otherwise they need at least as many points as South Africa take against Ireland in Dublin (4.40pm GMT). A tie on points would go to the Springboks unless New Zealand found a 72-point swing on points difference.
England, on 20, can still top the Northern Hemisphere table too. They need at least one point more than France (21), who host Argentina at 8.10pm GMT, and no fewer than Ireland (20).
England v New Zealand Head-To-Head And Form
New Zealand have won 36 of the 47 Tests between the sides, England nine, with two drawn. The last five:
- 19 Nov 2022, Twickenham: England 25–25 New Zealand
- 6 Jul 2024, Dunedin: New Zealand won 16–15
- 13 Jul 2024, Auckland: New Zealand won 24–17
- 2 Nov 2024, Twickenham: New Zealand won 24–22
- 15 Nov 2025, Twickenham: England won 33–19
That 2025 win was England’s first over the All Blacks at Twickenham since 2012. In this Nations Championship, England have won four straight since losing 45–21 at Ellis Park. New Zealand won four before Cardiff.
Team News: Who Is Fit?
England’s Ollie Chessum (shoulder), George Furbank (groin) and Seb Atkinson (hip) missed the Japan game. “Progressing well,” Steve Borthwick said of the three, as reported by the Evening Standard. “We’re still hopeful that they’ll be able to be in contention for selection next week.” The paper reported Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (ankle) is out for the autumn.
New Zealand were without Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett in Cardiff. Jordan tore a hamstring against Scotland, but assistant coach Neil Barnes said on 10 November that it was a minor tear and the All Blacks were “hopeful” he could face England, Australian Associated Press reported. Barrett failed a head injury assessment in that game.
Rennie said he had “no regret” over the side he picked in Cardiff: “We had a good enough side on the field tonight to win.”
READ MORE: All Blacks boss Dave Rennie has ‘no regret’ over selection after first defeat to Wales since 1953
England v All Blacks: By The Numbers
These figures come from the official Nations Championship post-match reports for each side’s last game on 14 November. Bear in mind England’s came against a Japan side that had 14 men from the first minute to the 22nd.
| Last game, 14 November | England v Japan (won 78–15) | New Zealand v Wales (lost 35–28) |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 78 | 28 |
| Tries | 13 | 4 |
| Possession | 54.8% | 64.7% |
| Metres made | 716 | 677 |
| Carries | 139 | 260 |
| Line breaks | 16 | 9 |
| Defenders beaten | 32 | 36 |
| Offloads | 7 | 20 |
| Tackles made | 142 | 136 |
| Tackles missed | 21 | 19 |
| Turnovers won | 11 | 7 |
| Turnovers conceded | 12 | 15 |
| Penalties conceded | 8 | 9 |
| Scrum success | 100% | 0%* |
| Lineout success | 83.3% | 80% |
New Zealand carried 260 times to Wales’ 119 and made 20 offloads, but Wales made 346 tackles and won 11 turnovers. The All Blacks made 677 metres, only 39 fewer than England managed against Japan, and turned it into four tries. England’s 16 line breaks brought 13 tries; New Zealand’s nine brought four.
| Top performer, last game | England v Japan | New Zealand v Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Most metres | Will Joseph 226 | Richie Mo’unga 78 (Beauden Barrett and Peter Lakai 75) |
| Most tackles | George Martin 17 (Maro Itoje 16) | Quinn Tupaea 14 (Scott Barrett, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi 13) |
| Most line breaks | Will Joseph 7 | Fehi Fineanganofo and Cortez Ratima 2 |
| Most carries | George Martin 14 | Quinn Tupaea 23 |
Will Joseph made 226 of England’s 716 metres and seven of their 16 line breaks. Nobody in black made more than 78.
READ MORE: Dafydd Jenkins 38 Tackles: Wales’ Heroic Stand Against The All Blacks In Numbers
Season so far: England v New Zealand averages
| Average per game, Rounds 1–5 | England | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Points scored | 49.6 | 38.4 |
| Points conceded | 22.8 | 25.2 |
| Tries scored | 7.8 | 5.8 |
| Possession | 49.8% | 57.2% |
| Metres made | 509.6 | 542.4 |
| Carries | 122.6 | 201.2 |
| Line breaks | 11.6 | 14.2 |
| Defenders beaten | 31.2 | 36.2 |
| Offloads | 4.8 | 12.2 |
| Tackles made | 162.2 | 155.2 |
| Tackles missed | 30.0 | 24.0 |
| Turnovers won | 7.6 | 6.0 |
| Turnovers conceded | 11.4 | 11.4 |
| Penalties conceded | 10.0 | 8.4 |
England score more per game (49.6 points to 38.4) on less of the ball, though their 73–8 win over Fiji and 78–15 win over Japan lift that figure. New Zealand average 201.2 carries and 12.2 offloads a game to England’s 122.6 and 4.8. England miss more tackles, 30 a game to New Zealand’s 24, and give away more penalties, 10 to 8.4.
Was England’s 78 Flattered By Japan’s Red Card?
Japan were down to 14 from the first minute until the 22nd after Harry Hockings’ 20-minute red card. Once they were back to 15, England still won 46–12, as our England vs Japan match report shows.
Now flip it. In Cardiff, New Zealand had 65 per cent of the ball and nine line breaks to Wales’ five, and still lost. We doubt they waste that much twice.
Our view: England’s attack is real, but Jones is right that a beaten All Blacks side is the dangerous kind. We expect one score in it, and New Zealand on the right side of it.
What Time Is England v New Zealand, And Where Is It On TV?
- UK: 2.10pm GMT, Saturday 21 November, ITV
- New Zealand: 3.10am NZDT, Sunday 22 November, Sky Sport
- Australia: 1.10am AEDT, Sunday 22 November, Stan Sport
- South Africa: 4.10pm SAST, Saturday 21 November, SuperSport
Sources: fixture, kick-off, referee, results and tables from the official Nations Championship site. Eddie Jones quotes from Sky Sports (Michael Cantillon, 15 November 2026). Dave Rennie and Beauden Barrett at the All Blacks’ post-match press conference in Cardiff, 14 November 2026. Borthwick quotes and England injuries from the Evening Standard (Sam Tabuteau, 14 November 2026). Jordan and Barrett updates from AAP, 11 November 2026. Match statistics from the official Nations Championship post-match reports in the stats centre.
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