England Stuns New Zealand 33-19 at Twickenham, Ending 13-Year Home Drought
On a cold, electric Saturday night at Twickenham, England didn’t just beat the All Blacks—they buried a ghost. The England national rugby team triumphed 33-19 over New Zealand on the 2025 Quilter Nations Series Allianz Stadium, ending a 13-year wait for a home victory against the world champions. With 81,953 fans roaring, referee Andrea Piardi of Italy blew the final whistle on a performance that rewrote history. This wasn’t just a win. It was a reckoning.
The Ghosts of Twickenham
Since 2012, no England side had beaten New Zealand on home soil. Thirteen years. Ten matches. All losses. Each one stung more than the last—some by a point, others by a landslide. Fans grew used to the ritual: All Blacks arriving with swagger, England struggling to match their intensity, and the final whistle bringing that familiar, hollow silence. Until now.
The script looked familiar early. Within 18 minutes, Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor had crossed for quick tries, turning Twickenham into a silent cathedral. 12-0. The All Blacks were in cruise control. But then something shifted. Not dramatically. Not with a flash. But with grit.
The Turning Point: Ford’s Brilliance
George Ford, England’s captain and fly-half, didn’t need to run 50 meters to change the game. He just needed his boot. Two drop-goals—in the 38th and 40th minutes—cut the lead to 12-11 at halftime. Then came Ollie Lawrence, bulldozing through two defenders for a try that felt like a declaration. The crowd exhaled. The All Blacks looked confused.
By the 43rd minute, Sam Underhill crashed over from close range. The momentum had flipped. Fraser Dingwall added another at 55, and suddenly, England were ahead 26-12. New Zealand responded through Will Jordan at 65, but the damage was done. Ford’s penalty at 75 sealed it. Then, in the final minute, Tom Roebuck pounced on a kick-through from Henry Pollock and dived into the corner. 33-19. The stadium erupted.
Man of the Match and the Machine Behind It
Ford finished with 15 points: two conversions, one penalty, two drop-goals, and leadership that never wavered. He was named Man of the Match—not because he scored the most, but because he controlled the tempo when everything was on the line. Underhill’s work rate, Dingwall’s precision, and Roebuck’s opportunism all mattered. But it was Ford’s calm under pressure that turned a good game into a historic one.
Head coach Steve Borthwick now has 10 straight Test wins. That’s the longest streak in England’s modern era. No one thought he’d get here—not after the 2023 World Cup disappointment, not after the shaky start to this series. But this win? It’s the crown jewel. The moment his team stopped being good and became legendary.
What Went Right for England
They didn’t out-skill New Zealand. They out-thought them. NBC Sports noted England’s lineout efficiency was “tied up” at the start—meaning they won clean ball and didn’t give New Zealand the quick recycle they thrive on. They stayed narrow, attacking the gain line relentlessly. “Don’t go wide,” one commentator said. “You don’t have to go wide. You can beat the All Blacks in different ways.” And they did.
Even when Ben Earl got a yellow card at 65, England didn’t panic. They held the line. They forced errors. They kept the ball alive. That discipline—something this team has been building since Borthwick took over—is what separates them now.
What’s Next? The Ripple Effect
England’s next match is against Argentina on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 4:10pm at Twickenham. A win there would make it 11 straight—something no England side has ever done. New Zealand, meanwhile, heads to Cardiff to face Wales on Saturday, November 16, at 3:10pm. They’ll be rattled. Not just by the scoreline, but by the fact that their aura is cracking.
This win isn’t just about pride. It’s about belief. For young English players watching on TV, it says: you can beat the best. Not by luck. Not by hope. But by structure, patience, and relentless execution.
The Bigger Picture
The 2025 Quilter Nations Series was always going to be a showcase. But this match? It became a landmark. Sky Sports and NBC Sports both ran extended features, calling it “the end of an era” for New Zealand’s invincibility at Twickenham. And maybe it is.
For the first time since 2012, England can look at the All Blacks and not flinch. They can see them as beatable. And that changes everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the last time England beat New Zealand at home?
England’s last home win over New Zealand came on November 13, 2012, at Twickenham, when they won 38-21. Since then, they lost 10 straight matches on home soil, including a 38-20 defeat in 2022. The 33-19 victory on November 15, 2025, ended that 13-year streak and marked only the 11th home win against the All Blacks in 34 meetings.
How did George Ford’s drop-goals change the game?
Ford’s two drop-goals in the final minutes of the first half—on 38’ and 40’—cut New Zealand’s lead from 12-0 to 12-11. These weren’t just points; they were psychological blows. They showed England could score without relying on long breaks, shifting momentum and forcing New Zealand to rethink their defensive strategy. Drop-goals are rare in modern rugby, making Ford’s precision even more remarkable.
Why was Ben Earl’s yellow card significant?
Earl’s yellow card at the 65th minute gave New Zealand a 5-minute window to exploit a numerical advantage. Will Jordan capitalized with a try, briefly reigniting hope. But England’s defense held firm, forcing two turnovers and a penalty. The fact they didn’t concede more under pressure proved their maturity—and marked a stark contrast to past England teams that would have collapsed under the same conditions.
How does this win impact England’s chances in the 2027 Rugby World Cup?
This victory is a massive confidence boost for England’s World Cup campaign. Beating New Zealand in their prime—on home soil, under pressure—proves they can compete with the best. With 10 straight wins and a cohesive, disciplined unit, England are now considered serious contenders. Players like Ford, Underhill, and Dingwall are peaking at the right time, and Borthwick’s system is proving resilient under global scrutiny.
Who were the key players for New Zealand in this match?
Leicester Fainga'anuku and Codie Taylor delivered early tries, while Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie handled the kicking duties. Will Jordan’s 65th-minute try briefly gave New Zealand hope. But overall, the All Blacks lacked their usual fluidity, especially in the midfield. Their lineout was less dominant than usual, and they struggled to break England’s tight defense after halftime.
Was this match broadcast globally?
Yes. Sky Sports aired the match live in the UK, while NBC Sports covered it in the U.S., releasing a 15-minute 31-second highlights package on YouTube on November 15, 2025. The game drew over 2.3 million viewers in the UK alone, making it the most-watched rugby match of the year. England Rugby’s official match center recorded over 1.8 million unique visits during the game.
