WELLINGTON, 15 June 2003 — England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson kicked all his team’s points yesterday as the European champions recorded a momentous 15-13 win over New Zealand.
Wilkinson slotted four penalties and a drop goal to give England only their second Test victory in New Zealand.
All Black fullback Doug Howlett scored the game’s sole try, running on to a Carlos Spencer tactical kick in the second half.
Although the game rarely flowed, the pace never relented and the tension between the Six Nations champions and last year’s winners of the Tri-Nations was evident in several fiery exchanges between the forwards.
England number eight Lawrence Dallaglio had an immense game for the tourists and prop Phil Vickery was prominent in several barging runs after coming on in the second half.
For New Zealand, Spencer showed several touches of individual brilliance but failed with three kickable penalties and the fleet-footed outside backs were kept in check by some determined England defending.
England’s best period came midway through the second half with loose forwards Neil Back and Dallaglio in the sin bin. The tourists not only repulsed the All Blacks but extended their lead to six points through Wilkinson’s fourth penalty.
Referee Stuart Dickinson sin-binned first Back for handling the ball on the ground in a ruck and a minute later Dallaglio for coming in from the side of a ruck and killing the ball. The All Blacks were hot on attack at that stage and number eight Rodney So’oialo got over the line but was penalised for making two movements.
Wilkinson had put England ahead 15-6 in the 61st minute and a minute later Howlett scored after Spencer had kicked into the vacant England fullback slot. Howlett beat the gallant Dallaglio to the ball over the try line. England conceded 70 percent of the territory and 54 percent of the possession and, as well, Dickinson penalised them 20 times to the All Blacks’ 13.l
But while England had few chances to score a try, the All Blacks had several snuffed out by the terrier-like England defense and the tireless work of their forwards, with skipper Martin Johnson outstanding in the tight. The teams went to the break 6-6 with Wilkinson and Spencer both kicking two penalties.??
Koen Kicks Springboks
to Hard-Fought Victory
In Johannesburg, South Africa flyhalf Louis Koen kicked 23 points to earn his side a hard-fought 28-19 victory over Scotland in the second of two Tests yesterday.
Koen kicked six penalties and a drop goal as well as converting the Springboks’ sole try by Stefan Terblanche to give his team a 2-0 series victory. The hosts won the first test in Durban 29-25.
Scotland led 7-0 thanks to an early 90-meter interception try from Andy Craig.
The center picked off a pass by Koen under the Scottish uprights before outpacing the pursuing South Africans on a chase down the length of the field at Ellis Park.
Chris Paterson converted and added three more penalties as the Scots’ kept their noses in front 16-12 at the interval. All South Africa’s points came from Koen who kicked three penalties and a drop goal to keep his side in touch as they continued to reproduce the handling errors of the first Test.
However, their domination at the scrum and lineout kept them on the front foot and as they began to find the continuity that had eluded them in the first test they were again able to stage a second-half comeback.
They scored their try two minutes after the restart when fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen — the man of the match -collected an overkicked up-and-under and counterattacked from outside his own 22.
He linked with wing Ashwin Willemse before scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen turned the ball back inside for Terblanche to score his 19th Test try. Koen converted and added three more penalties as the Springboks outscored Scotland by 16 points to three. Scotland’s points came from Paterson’s fifth success in as many kicks.
Sailor Scores Twice
as Wallabies Win
In Sydney, Wendell Sailor scored two tries, including an amazing solo effort spanning the length of the field, as a rusty Australia side limped past Wales 30-10 yesterday.
The former rugby league international crossed twice in the first half as the Wallabies warmed up for next week’s Cook Cup test against England with a below par performance. Fullback Chris Latham, hooker Jeremy Paul and replacement centre Nathan Grey also scored tries while Elton Flatley kicked a penalty and Joe Roff a conversion.
Cardiff center Jamie Robinson scored Wales’ only try midway through the second half while Llanelli flyhalf Stephen Jones landed a penalty and a conversion. The world champions Australians, who opened their season with a 45-16 win over Ireland last week, played well below their best but were always too strong and fast for the Welsh.
