In 2012, England faced New Zealand at Twickenham while grappling with a tough streak of six victories in their last 33 matches. The Autumn Nations Series match took place on November 2, featuring live commentary on BBC Radio and updates through the BBC Sport platform. Brad Barritt, a former centre for England, vividly recalled the atmosphere at Twickenham, describing it as electric while acknowledging the challenge posed by the world champions, New Zealand.

As the top-ranked team globally, New Zealand arrived expecting to extend their unbeaten streak to 21 games. Despite external skepticism about England’s chances—having not defeated the All Blacks in nine years—there was a sense of anticipation within Stuart Lancaster’s squad. Barritt noted that the team felt it was time for a significant performance.

What transpired was a remarkable display of rugby that culminated in a historic 38-21 victory for England. Barritt reflected on how England had struggled in previous autumn matches, which heightened the challenge against an All Blacks team considered one of the best ever. Despite being underdogs, Owen Farrell’s kicking prowess helped establish a 15-0 lead at halftime. However, Barritt expressed some disappointment over missed opportunities that could have widened their advantage.

After halftime, New Zealand quickly responded with tries from Julian Savea and Kieran Read, narrowing England’s lead to just one point and sending a wave of worry through the English camp. Barritt recalled the pressure of being leveled but emphasized that the team remained positive and focused on regaining control.

Just minutes later, Barritt executed a crucial play with Manu Tuilagi that led to another try in the corner. This moment shifted momentum back to England as they began to assert their dominance. Tuilagi soon followed up by assisting Chris Ashton for another try before sealing his own with an intercept score. The crowd at Twickenham erupted as England delivered one of New Zealand’s heaviest defeats in history.

As England prepares to face New Zealand again this year, Barritt sees parallels between both teams' situations. He believes that although current players possess talent and experience, they are still seeking those vital wins against top competition. For England to replicate their success from 2012, Barritt stressed the importance of set-piece execution and maintaining balance in their gameplay against formidable opponents like New Zealand.