England's ambition of issuing a statement of intent ahead of next year's World Cup was crushed by a losing start to the QBE Series that saw New Zealand depart Twickenham narrow 24-21 winners.
The triumph slipped from their hands after the All Blacks dominated the second half to extend their mastery of the fixture to five successive victories.
New Zealand arrived at Twickenham with a remarkable record of having lost just twice in 39 Tests since winning the 2011 World Cup, but they looked anything but 1/3 match favourites as England raced into the lead after just three minutes.
And it was Gloucester winger Jonny May who brought Twickenham to its feet with a stunning solo try. May, the fastest player in England's squad, switched on the afterburners to sprint around Conrad Smith and Israel Dagg as England made a dream start to the first of their autumn internationals.
The All Blacks were rattled and but for better hands from Mike Brown their line would have been breached again as Kyle Eastmond sought to exploit an overlap. By the 10th minute they had composed themselves and ran in a controversial try through Aaron Cruden, made possible by Kieran Read's bullet pass to lock Sam Whitelock.
Cruden appeared to fall short and spill the ball forward before grounding it, but referee Nigel Owens awarded the score immediately instead of referring it to the TMO and replays on the big screen were met with boos.
Farrell landed two penalties before England lost Courtney Lawes after the second row took a blow to the head, resulting in George Kruis making his debut off the bench.
Cruden was on target with three points and New Zealand built pressure, with Cruden's classy off-load to Sonny Bill Williams a dangerous moment, but England scrambled superbly.
The match kept up a fast pace, Cruden adding a second penalty before England won a turnover that ended with Richie McCaw being penalised at the breakdown, enabling Owen Farrell to nudge Stuart Lancaster's men into a 14-11 half-time lead.
The advantage lasted only five minutes of the restart when New Zealand expertly exploited a crumbling defence. Prop Owen Franks punched a hole in midfield before the ball was spun left, with Dagg sending McCaw over for a simple try as debutant Semesa Rokoduguni failed to defend a three-on-one overlap.
A tight encounter made way for a dominant third quarter from New Zealand, who began to find space with increasing regularity.
All Blacks hooker Dane Coles was sent to the sin bin for lashing out with a boot on the ground after being pulled by Dylan Hartley, but still England were unable to escape their own half. Julian Savea, the scorer of eight tries in four matches against the Red Rose, knocked on as the line beckoned, a victim of the heavy rain.
Beauden Barrett missed a penalty in front of the posts, but after Williams ran through a tackle by Farrell, the substitute fly-half had a second chance from a similar position and this time was successful.
It was only a matter of time until England's line cracked again and it was substitute Charlie Faumuina who drove over after waves of attacks, although England had the final say when referee Owens gave a penalty try after the All Blacks had pulled down a maul.
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