Live Commentary: England 21-24 New Zealand - as it happened

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of England's Autumn International clash against New Zealand at Twickenham.

Today's match offers the hosts a chance to take on the world's best side, with the World Cup now fast approaching. The All Blacks may have tasted defeat at the hands of South Africa last month, although that is one of just two defeats suffered since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup three years ago.

New Zealand prepared for this afternoon's clash with an emphatic victory over the United States last week, in a match scheduled more for commercial reasons than anything else. That said, Steve Hansen's men were still hugely impressive in Chicago, highlighting their strength in depth.

Four men have retained their place from that side, including Sonny Bill Williams who has another chance to send out a message at Twickenham. Dan Carter misses out for the visitors, meanwhile, although that won't be a huge concern for the All Blacks coming into this one.

The 32-year-old played half an hour at Soldiers Field seven days ago, but missed the cut for today's squad as he eases back following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. As long as he it fit and firing in nine months' time, Hansen will not care too much. There's some good news elsewhere with Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea, Ben Smith, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles and Wyatt Crockeet all returning.

In fact, this All Blacks side boasts a squad who between them hold over 1,000 caps. To put that into some perspective, England's squad has less than half of that tally. New Zealand certainly don't lack experience, and they will be looking to secure a fourth win over England this year.

In terms of the home side, there is a lot of excitement over the inclusion of Semesa Rokoduguni. The 27-year-old has six tries so far this season for club side Bath, and he has been given a chance to impress against the best side on the planet this afternoon. George Kruis was also called up to the squad, which is missing key names such as Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury

TEAMS!

ENGLAND: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Danny Care; 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler

NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett

Chris Robshaw won the toss against Richie McCaw; England will kick off #comeonengland ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/mjuVTgMmth — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 8, 2014

Well it must be remembered that this is indeed a friendly, although with the World Cup on the horizon, victory today will see expectation reach fever pitch. On the other hand, a heavy defeat will dent hopes of building some momentum. Lancaster's men certainly won't ease into the game, though, and this is seen as a huge chance to pull off an upset against a New Zealand side favourites to retain their World Cup crown next year.

New Zealand just have the knack of taking their chances, and not making mistakes. It's all very simple really. If England are to win here today then they must capitalise on any rare errors, yet if both teams play at their peak then there is only going to be one winner.

PREDICTION: The truth is the All Blacks just don't lose games; not often, anyway. Just twice in fact since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup have they suffered a reverse, but one of those came against South Africa recently which provides some hope for England. I believe the Red Rose will give the world champs a good run for their money - certainly providing more of a challenge that the USA - with New Zealand eventually prevailing by a couple of tries.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: New Zealand have won on five of their last six visits to Rugby HQ, with the one blot on their copybook coming back in 2012 when England memorably came out on top 38-21. Can the hosts match that performance this afternoon?

Well the teams are now out onto the field, as we await the national anthems. When New Zealand are involved, what goes on before the match is often just as exciting as events on the field during play.

England visited New Zealand earlier this year, of course, losing all three encounters. The performances were by no means disastrous, although they will be looking to push the All Blacks all the way today. We've now got around to the anthems following a beautifully observed minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

England's players look fired up as they belt out God Save the Queen. New Zealand's group are looking as calm and collected as ever. Now for the small matter of the Haka. There's been a lot of talk about it this week, and Twickenham responds with a rendition of Swing Low.

Right, we're now pretty much ready to get underway. Could this be a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup final?

400 - A win against England at Twickenham this afternoon would take the @AllBlacks to 400 Test victories. Memorabilia. #ENGvNZL — OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) November 8, 2014

There's a long way to go before then, of course, with this very much the start of England's, and indeed New Zealand's, journey. Owen Farrell gets the game underway - let's hope for an entertaining clash between two heavyweights.

How about that! With under four minutes on the clock England make the breakthrough at Twickenham. The ball was turned over well, and having worked it from right to left, the rest was left to Jonny May who charged forward to touch down. That is a fabulous try.

Incidentally, that's May's first Test try, and not one he will forget in a hurry. Farrell couldn't find the sticks from the conversion, however.

New Zealand are rattled here, and England very nearly added to their try count. The ball came forward where May was waiting once more, but Dagg made a superb tackle to thwart the danger. The Kiwis have not got going at all.

Frustration for England, as Eastmond's superb pass out to Brown leaves the Harlequins man with ground to run into to extend his side's lead, but he couldn't handle the ball and instead knocked it on. Ten minutes in, and I don't think New Zealand have yet to leave their own half of the pitch!

Relentless attacking from the hosts, with wave after wave of attacks coming in. They got off to a perfect start, yet England may rue not making the most of their early domination as New Zealand inevitably grow into the contest.

Well I called it just a minute or so ago - England really needed to make the most of their early domination, because one chance is all it takes for New Zealand to level up. Laws and Hartley seemed to collide, allowing Cruden to edge towards the line and just about get the ball over the chalk. Harsh on the hosts, but that is why the Kiwis are world champs.

That is near enough the first time New Zealand have pushed into the opposition half, and they were as deadly as ever to temporarily silence Twickenham. Cruden failed to add the extras, though, meaning that we are all square.

Farrell successfully kicks over to regain England's lead. It was a long, straight kick, but he got the job done. England are worthy of their advantage, but there is of course a long, long way to go.

Coles powered his way into the opposition 22, but his teammates are penalised for going over the top. England now have the chance to put six points between themselves and the Kiwis with a pen after more joy at a maul.

Farrell makes no mistake to kick over his second pen in a calm, assured manner. England will take that.

Welsh referee Nigel Owens has now awarded a penalty to New Zealand following Hartley's high shove on Cruden. A little harsh, but a chance for the visitors to close the gap once more. Incidentally, Lawes has been forced off through injury with George Kruis the man coming on in his place.

Cruden makes no mistake in bringing New Zealand within three points of England in what has been a decent opening 25 minutes to this autumn international. Just an update on that Lawes injury - he is off for a head injury assessment. A chance for Saracens lock Kruis to make an impression here on his debut.

PHOTO: @paybackmay skips out of the tackle of Israel Dagg on the way to scoring a sublime opening try pic.twitter.com/3U2l8yBbEd — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 8, 2014

New Zealand looking a threat once more as they get bodies forward, and if not for a bad Sonny Bill Williams pass they could well have crossed over for a second time. Cruden could see a gap, but was unable to burst into it.

England just need to ride the pressure, because the Kiwis are ramping things up as we enter the final 10 minutes of the half. A horrible, sliced kick from Brown sees New Zealand prepare to come forward again, although Nigel Owens blew his whistle after McCaw knocked the ball on.

On the whole England can be more than happy with their first-half showing up to this point. The team certainly doesn't look disjointed, and it is they who lead having seen off that spell of New Zealand pressure.

Farrell looks for the sticks with a drop kick from range having dropped into the pocket, but the ball ended narrowly wide of the intended target. He wasn't under a great deal of pressure, so will feel a little disappointed not to have extended the hosts' lead.

No off day for Cruden today with the boot, as he kicks over for the third time to level up the contest. Eastmond was the guilty party for giving the pen away in front of the sticks, getting on the wrong side of Sonny Bill Williams which cost him dearly.

Brown is put under pressure by Williams under a high ball, but he managed to scramble it clear from danger. It looks like we'll be going into the break al-square.

...or maybe not. Brad Barrritt chopped down Savea allowing England to turn the ball over, before McCaw was forced into giving away a pen. Farrell was successful with his effort to give the hosts a deserved lead at the interval.

England are good value for their lead at the break, making the perfect start through Jonny May's solo try before piling constant pressure on their opponents. New Zealand inevitably grew into the contest, though, and levelled up through Aaron Cruden's try 10 minutes later.

It's been all about penalties since that point, with Farrell kicking over three out of four and Cruden adding two of his own. That missed attempt at a drop goal was a little disappointing, but Stuart Lancaster will be delighted by what he has seen in the first 40 minutes.

Jonny May celebrates his early try which saw England get off to a flying start...

© Getty Images

The message from Stuart Lancaster at the break will be 'more of the same'. England probably should had more to show for their first-half showing, although there is a solid footing to build on following the restart. That said, New Zealand will surely begin the second in a far better manner than they started the contest.

Elsewhere this afternoon Wales are taking on South Africa at the Millennium Stadium, and the hosts find themselves 24-21 behind at the break. Two more sides with hopes of lifting the World Cup in 2015.

We're back underway at Twickenham, and there's news of a New Zealand change to bring you. Patrick Tuipulotu is on in place of Brodie Retallick in the second row.

A big chance for Cruden to level up the contest once more early on in the second half, but he failed to find the sticks with his penalty from range with the ball bouncing off the post. Julian Savea sent Brad Barritt tumbling with a shoulder barge for the initial infringement, but it wasn't capitalised on.

New Zealand find the lead through Richie McCaw, and it was a horrible try for the hosts to concede. England were left outnumbered on the left, and despite Dagg and McCaw trying their best to waste the chance, the latter crossed over to cancel out the Red Roses's hard work. George Kruis raced out to try to intercept Smith's pass, which opened up the space that New Zealand ran into.

Cruden fails to add the extras with a horribly sliced attempt which ended wide and low. The Kiwis are asking more questions of their opponents now, and look ready to push on for a third try.

Ben Smith breaking past Brad Barritt a little earlier...

© Getty Images

Vunipola carried the ball hard and straight, with Cruden then breaking the line and opting to kick ahead. It's end to end stuff at the moment, with the game very much poised on a knife edge.

Ben Morgan replaces Vunipola as England alter their back row. They are having to fend off some real pressure at the moment to remain in touch with their opponents.

Some desperate defending from England culminates in Whitelock crossing over... or so he thinks. The try was not given after it was ruled that he knocked the ball on when diving on it. The hosts now defending a scrum five metres out.

That was a big call which went in England's favour. The hosts have managed to fend off the relentless pressure for now, but you sense that a third New Zealand try is coming. Mullen is now on as Care slices a panicky clearance.

YELLOW CARD! Things have just spilled over a little now, which ends in Coles being issued with a yellow card. The hooker kicked out at Robshaw on the ground, and he has cost his side for the time being with his poor discipline. Video ref Simon McDowell didn't believe it was worthy of a yellow, but Nigel Owens felt otherwise.

So England a man up and within two points of New Zealand. Can they make the most of their advantage on the field? They haven't been able to trouble the Kiwis as much as they would have liked in the second half, but they have 20 minutes to change all that.

Cruden and Wyatt Crockett have been taken off with Beauden Barrett and Ben Franks coming on as the heavens open up above Twickenham. A double change for New Zealand, then, who are a man down for the next five minutes.

Savea drops the ball at the crucial moment as a chance goes begging for the visitors. The rain is really coming down now, and England have opted to make a change of their own. Rokoduguni, who has been seen more in defence rather than attack this afternoon, is the man to be taken off with another debutant - Anthony Watson - coming on. Youngs will also come on for Care.

Barrett fails to make the most of a penalty which ended well wide of the target. A huge let-off for the hosts. England have had just 14% of the ball in the last 10 minutes, which is pretty shocking when you consider the man advantage they have had in that time.

Barrett puts that poor miss a few minutes ago behind him, this time making no mistake to extend the All Blacks' lead to five points. It could have been worse for England, however, because Sonny Bill Williams looked for all the world as though he was going to cross over for a try, but he fluffed his lines with Wood straying offside to see just a pen awarded.

Dane Coles is back onto the field now, as New Zealand look to put the game beyond England. They're playing a patient game at the moment, just slowly edging up the field. This game is not over yet, but Lancaster's men need to pull something out the bag soon.

A fantastic try from New Zealand to surely wrap up the friendly victory. Faumuina was the man who got the ball over the line following some patient play, and the Kiwis have made their territorial control count. Barrett fails to find the sticks once more from the conversion, which is a cause for concern following Cruden's poor showing in similar circumstances last week, although in fairness it was always going to be tough in the pounding rain.

A rare chance for England to threaten the Kiwis as they earn a scrum in the opposition 22, but they fail to make the most of the opening. Time is really against them now, and New Zealand have surely done enough to take the points, although the hosts have another penalty right under the posts.

Another penalty against New Zealand. England not making the most of these chances, though, and there is now just a little over a minute to go.

Referee Nigel Owens punishes New Zealand for their persistent infringements, allowing England to move in within three points of their opponents. I wonder?... New Zealand in no rush to get the game back underway; it could be a tense final wave of play for them to see out.

There just wasn't enough time for England to find the points needed to overhaul New Zealand, and the referee brings play to an end.

England are left to rue their profligacy in the first half, having put the world champions under sustained spells of pressure but only holding a narrow lead at the break. The second half was dominated by the Kiwis, however, and they deserved their victory in the end.

Well that's all from me, but stick around as we bring you a full match report and all the reaction from Twickenham. Thanks for following Sports Mole's live text coverage.