In the first half both teams scored two penalties to leave the half time score at 6–6. In the second half England scored two more penalties to go 12–6 up. England then had two men, Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back, sin binned. Despite this Wilkinson extended England's lead with a drop goal. New Zealand scored a try to close the gap, but England won 15–13.
England named their squad for the tour on 28 May 2003. Full-back Iain Balshaw was included after four months out with a shoulder injury, while centre Jamie Noon was called up after scoring two tries in the match against the Barbarians on 25 May. Lock Danny Grewcock was left out after being suspended for the team's first game against New Zealand, having punched England team-mate Lawrence Dallaglio in the final of the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup; Grewcock was replaced by Tom Palmer, who had initially been named in the England A squad for the 2003 Churchill Cup. Flanker Andy Hazell received his first call-up for an England senior tour.[1]