Four Nations match report: England 20 -12 New Zealand - Hero Eorl as Engalnd rise to occasion
After beginning sluggishly against both France and Australia, it was imperative England got off to a good start – and that they did was largely down to Burgess.
He visibly lifted his teammates with some crunching tackles and created the game’s first try, spinning out of Frank-Paul Nuuausala’s attempted tackle to send Kyle Eastmond over for a 10th-minute score on his full debut.
Sinfield’s conversion made it 6-0, but the Kiwis struck back through left winger Bryson Goodwin after Fox shot out of the defensive line. It was a basic error that could have damaged the confidence of a less able player.
However, the Hull KR man was successfully able to make up for the blunder during the remainder of the match.
Goodwin missed the conversion but levelled the scores with a 30th-minute penalty, and it was still all square until Fox’s decisive intervention.
His first try came courtesy of lively stand-off Sam Tomkins, whose lofted kick to the corner bounced over the head of Goodwin and into the grateful arms of Fox.
Just 80 seconds remained of the first half when Fox struck again, taking Chris Bridge’s pass after England caught the New Zealand defensive line out of alignment from a scrum.
Sinfield added both conversions to give his side a 12-point cushion, but it was halved within two minutes of the restart when the Kiwis scored the best try of the match.
Substitute hooker Issac Luke shot away from dummy half and, after Nathan Fien moved the ball wide, back rower Ben Matulino took a return pass from centre Junior Sau to touch down.
As stalemate ensued and with a draw no good to England, Sinfield had the sense to attempt a drop goal, which was charged down by Sia Soliola.
But he had the opportunity to put two scores between the sides moments later when the Kiwis were punished for interference at the play-the-ball in front of their own posts and the Leeds captain made no mistake with the easy penalty to seal a superb success.
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