July Tests: How each nation fared - ENG vs NZL
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With the summer tours finally over after the end of Scotland’s marathon season last weekend, we look back at how the EPCR nations fared in their various Tests around the globe.
England miss opportunities
Twice England had chances to score a rare Test victory in New Zealand and twice they came up short after a predictable 52-17 romp in Japan.
They will be particularly ruing the way they let slip the first Test in Dunedin, where Marcus Smith missed three of his five kicks at goal as a rusty All Blacks side, in their first game since their World Cup final loss last autumn, edged home 16-15.
The World Cup runners-up were always going to be better in Auckland, where they haven’t lost in 30 years, but even then England had opportunities for a first Test win in New Zealand for 21 years, only to succumb 24-17.
