Dim, drizzly, murky November afternoons feel like the perfect backdrop for rugby international matches with an historic rivalry.

Memories come flooding back of great winter treks when New Zealand would tour these islands for months on end travelling the length and breadth of our countries playing clubs, combined xv’s and finally the Barbarians.

In the modern professional era, this type of rugby odyssey is no longer viable, and the game is all the poorer for it. But there are still the vestiges of those magical days in international form, where the anticipation and thrill of the contest are still very much as they have always been.

On days like these you can feel the ghosts of seasons past breathing down your neck Duckham, Kirkpatrick, Going, Obolensky, days when rugby was black and white on the field and on your television.

England and New Zealand matches, for more than a century, have heavily favoured the All Blacks, but the rivalry is about far more than wins and losses. The two sides first met in 1905, during the famous tour of the “Original All Blacks.” New Zealand won 15–0 at Crystal Palace, a match that introduced English crowds to the revolutionary running and passing style that would come to define New Zealand rugby. For England, it was both a shock and a revelation, a glimpse of how far the game had evolved beyond its birthplace.

The two nations have met each other on 43 occasions with New Zealand winning 33, England 8 and two matches have been drawn.

This All Blacks side, by their own high standards, have shown hitherto unseen signs of vulnerability, emphasised by recent narrow defeats to Argentina and massively to South Africa.

But in victories over Ireland and Scotland over the last few weeks we have seen if not a rejuvenation then certainly signs of greater things to come from this group of players. Facing England at Twickenham would be the acid test.

For an England side unbeaten in their last nine games, this was the day to prove that they could live with the big dogs of the game. With a frightening depth of talent now at their disposal, there could be no excuses.

England started in full colour, pounding the All Black defence, but the visitors held out and scored tries through Fainga’anuku and Taylor in a five-minute spell.

Lawrence pulled one back for England before George Ford landed two drop goals in the space of two minutes just before half-time to make it a one point game.

The second half couldn’t have started much worse for New Zealand, a harsh yellow card for Codie Taylor and a try conceded within the opening three minutes.

England pounced on an error strewn All Blacks team and built up a 25-12 lead before Will Jordan scored for New Zealand closing the gap to sevens points with fifteen minutes remaining.

England despite being down to fourteen following Ben Earle’s yellow card not only saw out the remainder of the game but managed a further try from right wing Tom Roebuck.

Make no mistake, this was a convincing win for England. Whilst their chest pumping and posturing after every successful turnover and penalty may not be to everyone’s liking, there is no doubt they have woken up the Allianz Stadium, which was as loud as I have ever heard it.

It may have been rugby in black in white, but there will have been plenty painting the town red in the Twickenham area and further afield last night and maybe for a few nights to come.