England v New Zealand is always a fixture at the top of every rugby fan’s radar. The historic fixture which has not been seen since the 2019 Rugby World Cup which saw England dominate New Zealand in an astonishing semi-final which saw the side win 19 – 7 against a threatening All Blacks side.
The game started with a unique Twickenham experience, a light show which set the tone for the fixture, and the scale of the spectacle with fans having the opportunity to witness the Haka. With England not getting the start they would have liked having conceded two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the game. However, England dug deep in the second half and managed to keep focus.
England delivered a stunning comeback on Owen Farrell’s 100th Test cap for his country to earn a hard fought a draw against the All Blacks. England’s replacement Will Stuart came on to make a crucial impact, scoring two tries in the final 10 minutes of the game. Both tries came from exceptional carries from within 5-metres of the try line to punch through the powerful All Blacks defence and score vital points that were needed to help England deliver a famous draw!
Freddie Steward delivered another superb performance, cutting through the All Blacks defence causing problems in all areas of the pitch. An exciting second half from Marcus Smith saw well composed decisions with a touch of creative flair shining through his game to orchestrate England’s charge up the field.
There was a wide array of hospitality throughout the day with memorable experiences delivered to our guests. England legends including Jerry Guscott, Ben Cohen and others interacted with guests and gave a unique insight into the game throughout all the facilities. Legendary Al Black Justin Marshall was also sharing personal stories of the fixture with guests in The East Wing.
Members of The Red Roses team also appeared our facilities. It was a special moment for the guests to interact with the Rugby World Cup finalists after an outstanding performance in the tournament, where they put rugby on the front pages of papers across the country. With Red Roses captain Sarah Hunter in The East Wing.
There was some exquisite Michelin star inspired dishes on offer throughout our facilities. Head Chef at The Grill at The Dorchester, Tom Booton was making his Twickenham debut in The East Wing. His unique menu with flavours that have a strong connection with rugby such as the fillet of Yorkshire beef served with a Guinness mayonnaise, stuffed onion, and hotpot was the perfect pairing on offer in The East Wing for a cold evening at the rugby.
With only one fixture remaining for the Autumn Nations Series this Saturday, 26 November where England will take on the reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa, a team which England has recently had success against at Twickenham.
Have you missed out on a unique rugby experience? Or had an outstanding experience this Autumn in one of our hospitality facilities and are interested in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations click Here.
The standout fixture for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations must be England v Scotland. With the history of the Calcutta Cup, this longstanding rivalry paired with the close contests in recent years, it is a must-see match for all rugby fans. Why not enjoy it in style with our official hospitality experiences here