All Blacks defeat 'tough to take' - George

England person toppled nan All Blacks successful New Zealand conscionable erstwhile since nan move of nan 21st century. At nan last whistle of their 16-15 conclusion successful Dunedin connected Saturday, location was a consciousness of regret astatine what could person been.

Steve Borthwick's broadside threatened an upset done Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's try, only to beryllium denied a first triumph successful New Zealand since 2003 by 2 second-half Damian McKenzie penalties.

Marcus Smith impressed pinch shot successful manus but missed 3 of his 5 kicks astatine extremity successful a disappointing capacity from nan tee.

"We're gutted, of people we are," England skipper Jamie George told BBC Sport.

"Not galore teams travel present and do that to nan All Blacks. It's a reliable consequence to take.

"We decidedly weren't astatine our champion but nan fundamentals of our game, what we talk astir sloppy of nan bounce of nan ball, is america being retired present and showing characteristic and I deliberation we did that successful spades.

"In nan week they were talking astir not knowing excessively galore of our players - I deliberation they'll cognize america now."

The problem for George and his talented young charges, perhaps, is what comes next.

The sides will reason their two-match bid adjacent Saturday astatine Eden Park, a venue wherever nan hosts person reigned ultimate against each foes for 30 years.

"We will make it astir nan rugby, that's what it is ever going to beryllium about," added George.

"There's truthful overmuch to prime retired from this game, learnings, disappointment and encouragement.

"What's happened successful nan past has happened successful nan past. We are present to win.

"We cognize that Eden Park is simply a reliable spot to play but we person won immoderate large games precocious and this would beryllium a very typical triumph successful each of our careers."

New All Blacks caput coach Scott Robertson fto retired a large sigh of alleviation astatine full-time arsenic his tenure began pinch a constrictive victory.

England's blitz defence had charged astatine his broadside each night.

New Zealand fans will beryllium accustomed to seeing their broadside play pinch attacking fluency, but England's statement velocity restricted them abstraction to execute their skills.

It led to a alteration of strategies successful nan 2nd half.

The hosts kept nan shot astatine adjacent quarters and tried to overpower their visitors, who were up to nan challenge.

George Martin and Chandler Cunningham-South some dominated nan collision pinch caller All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett successful a show of defiance, and past year's World Cup finalists were restricted to conscionable 16 points astatine home.

"A decent invited to Test rugby," Robertson told BBC Sport.

"From nan kick-off successful nan 2nd half nan limb wrestle started and they wouldn't fto america retired of it.

"I'm relieved alternatively than ecstatic. I will slumber good coming knowing we sewage nan consequence but besides aftermath up early knowing we've sewage immoderate activity to do.

"Man, they are a bully squad and they person played immoderate bully footy this twelvemonth and they were a infinitesimal distant [from winning]."

England are playing their champion rugby of nan Borthwick era, successful a twelvemonth successful which they person denied Ireland back-to-back Grand Slams.

"You don't often spot New Zealand play a crippled for illustration that and it became a due limb wrestle," Borthwick, who was a personnel of nan England squad nan past clip they won successful New Zealand, told BBC Sport.

"I'm proud of each nan players. We want to support getting amended and improve.

"Today's different measurement but let's beryllium clear, we're disappointed pinch nan loss.

"Ultimately location were opportunities we didn't return but erstwhile you look astatine this England team, I'm excited for nan future."