All Blacks edge England in dramatic ending at Twickenham

LONDON (AP) — England’s George Ford missed two last-gasp shots at goal and New Zealand held on to win a dramatic but scrappy autumn rugby series opener 24-22 at Twickenham on Saturday.

A brilliant solo try by wing Mark Tele’a, converted from the sideline by Damian McKenzie, regained New Zealand a two-point lead with three minutes to go.

But then Anton Lienert-Brown was sin-binned for a head-on-head tackle and Ford lined up an angled penalty kick from 40 meters with two to go.

It rebounded off the right post.

The hosts got a scrum in the 22, though, with the sell-out crowd of 82,000 baying England on, but New Zealand spoiled the scrum, and a rushed drop goal attempt by Ford after the 80-minute hooter flew well wide.

The All Blacks completed a hat trick of wins against England this year, by a combined 10 points.

Meanwhile, England was denied a first home win over the All Blacks since 2012.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby