AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Beauden Barrett came off the bench to spark a wilting All Blacks team to a 24-17 win over England in the second test Saturday to preserve New Zealand’s 30-year unbeaten streak at Eden Park.

New Zealand also swept the two-test series after winning 16-15 last weekend.

New Zealand’s 48-match unbeaten run at the Auckland stadium looked under threat when England led 17-13 at the three-quarter mark.

Maro Itoje disrupted New Zealand’s lineout, England dominated at kickoffs and won the kicking contest to press the All Blacks constantly inside their own half, winning more than 60% of territory.

But Barrett came into the match and created a double threat with fellow playmaker Damian McKenzie. Within a few minutes, Barrett created the second try of the match for winger Mark Telea and New Zealand wrested back the lead as England tired.

Telea scored New Zealand’s first try but England responded with two tries from Marcus Smith cross-kicks to wingers Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman to take a 14-13 lead into halftime. That lead increased to four points with a Smith penalty.

Itoje was a major force in the match as was Ben Earl for his ball carrying up front and Ollie Lawrence crashed the ball up fearlessly in midfield. Smith was poised throughout and pressured the All Blacks with accurate kicks while the All Blacks struggled to exit their own half.

The England scrum was under pressure early but clawed its way back into the match and the England rush defense again dulled the New Zealand attack. Until Barrett arrived and changed the course of the match.

Telea’s second try put New Zealand ahead 18-17 and McKenzie kicked two penalties to make the margin seven points.

England made one last effort to score a try and save a draw but Lawrence was penalized for obstruction in the last play of the match and New Zealand survived.

“It was a proper test match and we expected nothing less from a classy England side,” Barrett said. “It’s test footy and it comes down to the wire. I’m proud of the boys for showing some belief and finishing off there. I just try to stay calm off the bench and do what’s required when I come on.”

England comes away from New Zealand with nothing to show from a hard-fought test series in which the margin between the teams was slight, As in the first test, New Zealand found a way to escape again.

“I spoke earlier in the week to the boys about the journey this team has been on. It’s been a long season for us dating back to the start of the World Cup,” England captain Jamie George said.

George was over the All Blacks’ line in the last play but called back for a penalty.

“We’re a significantly better team than when we started and there’s hugely exciting times again for this England team,” he said.

There was more movement in the first 25 minutes of Saturday’s match than in all of the first test.

New Zealand found space early and had England under severe pressure twice in the first six minutes. The All Blacks scored the first try of the match in the 11th minute when it tapped a free kick. Ardie Savea carried the ball forward strongly, then New Zealand probed on the England right flank. Rieko Ioane dabbed forward and then passed to Telea to score in the left corner.

McKenzie converted in the first use of the goal-kicking “shot clock” introduced after a McKenzie penalty attempt was timed out in the first test.

England replied almost immediately, first crashing up along the left flank where Steward found some room. The ball came back into midfield and Marcus Smith kicked for Feyi-Waboso, who caught the ball with space and wrong-footed the defense to score in the 14th minute. The teams were level at 7-7.

New Zealand bombed what seemed a certain try in the 19th minute when Stephen Perofeta and Telea were involved in a long break out and a two-on-one mismatch with Smith. But Smith kept his head and Telea tried one too many passes, only for Smith to intercept and relieve the danger.

McKenzie kicked penalties in the 21st and 33rd minutes to put New Zealand ahead 13-7. In the interim, New Zealand had to soak up pressure in its own half as England kept the ball in hand and tried to blast through the All Blacks midfield.

The defense held until just after the halftime siren with Smith again chanced a cross-kick and winger Tommy Freeman went high to take the ball over Telea and score.

England extended its lead after halftime with a Smith penalty, before Barrett helped the All Blacks wrest back the advantage.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby