There seems no escape route for English rugby, whatever names they choose for their representative teams. Twelve internationals, including seven British Lions, playing under the banner of Emerging England were swept aside by another immense All Black performance at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield last night to leave home morale distinctly shaky ahead of Saturday's first Test at Old Trafford. The New Zealanders' second-string team racked up another eight tries to take their tally in four unbeaten matches to an astonishing 35. Most worrying of all was the manner in which the English scrummage was systematically dismantled, leaving England coach Clive Woodward short of options for the senior side.
The boot of Paul Grayson, who kicked five penalties, and a late interception try from Nick Grenstock kept the margin of victory down, but there was no denying the superior power and ball skills of the tourists. Full-back Todd Miller, kept out of the Test reckoning by Christian Cullen, registered an impressive hat-trick of tries, Jonah Lomu scored two and out-half Carlos Spencer kicked 19 points.
If John Hart remains unimpressed at the way opposite number Woodward has hijacked selection for these midweek games, his squad treat all-comers exactly the same. The only minor variation was an indisciplined start which allowed Grayson to kick three penalties inside seven minutes, briefly raising local hopes before reality intruded.
Josh Kronfeld and Lomu, neither of whom can currently get into the Test team, scored trademark tries in the first quarter and, after two penalties from Spencer, number eight Steve Surridge strolled unopposed through an increasingly stretched home defence to ensure a half-time lead of 25-9.
Miller plucked a pass off his toes to open their second-half account and lock Charles Riechelmann also made it onto the scoresheet before Miller, twice, and Lomu hoisted the total over the half-century yet again.
Woodward will name his team today to face the full New Zealand side in Saturday's Old Trafford Test. He deliberately waited for last night's evidence to give the experienced internationals, including the Lions, a chance to stake a claim over the youngest side that drew last Saturday's Test with Australia.
Apart from Grayson's kicking, there were few claimants.
The All Black Test side, needless to say, are a level up from this again. At this rate they could be facing Retreating England this weekend.
Richard Hill, Emerging England's coach, had no excuses and he also fears for the Test team who play the All Black's first team at the weekend.
He said: "Tonight's was a pretty near-perfect performance by the All Blacks. They are so far ahead of other nations and the gap is widening."Emerging England: Mallinder; Bentley, Greenstock, Allen, Beim; Grayson, Healey; Rowntree, Regan, Garforth, Shaw, Grewcock, Jenkins, Back, Sheasby. Replacements: Butland, Wood, Yates, McCarthy, Simms, Corry.
New Zealand: Miller; Umaga, McLeod, Little, Lomu; Spencer, Robinson; Allen, Oliver, Slater, Cooksley, Reichelmann, Blackadder, Surridge, Kronsfeld. Replacements: Stanley, Preston, Carter, Hoppa, Barrel, Hewitt.
Referee : P Deluca (Arg).
