Memory of 2019 semi-final defeat to England still lingers for All-Blacks

Eddie Jones’ team have never performed better than they did that night in Yokohama and it could be argued New Zealand have never entirely recovered either

ALL SMILES: England's Ben Youngs (left) and Jamie George during a training session at Twickenham Stadium, London. Pic: Steven Paston/PA Wire

It really is a sign of our turbulent times that the UK has had more prime ministers in three months than the All Blacks have played England in eight years. Almost as striking is the fact that Britain was firmly in the EU and David Cameron was still in Downing Street when Eddie Jones began his Twickenham tenure. When people question England’s lack of oval-ball consistency it is a clearly relative observation.

Amid the political and economic maelstrom, however, some things never change. The All Blacks still despise losing to England and memories of the sides’ last meeting, in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, have not wholly faded. Jones’ team have never performed better than they did that night in Yokohama and it could be argued New Zealand have never entirely recovered either.