Yokohama (Japan) (AFP)

Feel at Yokohama! England beat New Zealand undisputedly and after a recital to claim its first World Cup defeat in 12 years to end the semi-finals in the doubles title track (19-7).

The All Blacks had not seen the defeat in the competition since the quarter-final lost to France in 2007 (20-18), after which they had 18 successful matches ... This is to say the performance of the XV de the Rose, who will play next Saturday its first final since 2007 (defeat against South Africa), against Wales or the Springboks, opposed Sunday.

Four years ago, however, his players watched the New Zealanders lift the Webb-Ellis trophy home, after being out the door of "their" World Cup, eliminated in pools for the first time in their history - a first too for the organizing country.

The turnaround is spectacular and is led by senior architect Eddie Jones, called to the rescue to restore order in the house after two failed World Cups (elimination in the quarterfinals in 2011).

And aim for Japan a second world title after the 2003, goal proclaimed upon his arrival by the Australian technician.

- The haka challenged -

He still has a step to go, the highest, but if his team reproduces in a week, still Yokohama (suburbs of Tokyo), the same performance as Saturday, a second world crown reaches out to him.

For the English have made a recital to send the All Blacks to their dear studies, they who were probably a little tender, in 2019, after the retreats at the end of the 2015 edition of totems Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma Nou or Conrad Smith.

Their performance this year, worse than the previous ones, including a draw at home against South Africa (16-16) and a big defeat in Australia (47-26) in the Rugby Championship, had already thrown a veil on their ability to compete for a third world title of rank.

Saturday, they have undoubtedly made one of their worst games in years, unable to put their game in place, smothered by the defense of the XV of the Rose, deprived of balloons to play but especially time and space for recite their rugby.

They came only three times in the 22 meters! Once in the first period and two in a second. To regain hope, when Ardie Savea took advantage of an English misunderstanding to bring his team to six lengths (57th, 13-7).

The second incursion, however, sounded the death knell of their hopes, with a ball "scratched" by the third substitute English Mark Wilson (72nd).

Except on these rare occasions, the All Blacks did not see the light of day, taken at the entrance by the English who had defied their "haka" before the meeting by advancing in "V", for some at beyond the median line.

- Master Itoje -

They were not ready to back down, and showed it from the start of the meeting by their impacts in the wake of bulldozers Manu Tuilagi, Mako and Billy Vunipola or Kyle Sinckler.

Superiors in touch, where they stole two important ammunition in the first period, they deprived of balloon the All Blacks, who could not rely on the weapon of the group-penetrants, where Itoje reigned supreme.

In short, an outrageous domination of the English, materialized by statistics of possession (62%) and occupation (69%) largely in their favor at the break, and concretized by a ten-point lead (10-0) in the middle -time.

Thanks to a test by Manu Tuilagi (2) after an intense and splendid sequence of possession then a penalty at the very end of the first period of George Ford, author after the rest of three other penalties (49th, 62nd and 69th) to put his team under cover and punish New Zealanders' fouls (11 penalties).

The addition could have been even more salty since the XV of the Rose was refused two tests after video refereeing (25th and 46th) and failed to concretize, clumsily, four other dangerous situations (8th, 9th, 15th , 34th). Saturday, the tide was white.

© 2019 AFP