A beleaguered England found scant consolation on the Christchurch pitch for their off-field troubles this morning as they were crushed 44-12 by New Zealand in the second Test. The tourists had been keen to focus on rugby after a week when a series of lurid allegations made against the touring players hogged the headlines. But any thoughts of bouncing back on the field were snuffed out before half-time, as Daniel Carter inspired the All Blacks to a 20-0 lead at the interval. Although England got on the scoresheet in the second half, thanks to tries from Danny Care and Tom Varndell, with the replacement Olly Barkley finding his range, the home side continued to dominate and ran out convincing winners.

England made several changes to the team beaten 37-20 last week in Auckland. Loosehead prop Tim Payne replaced the injured Andrew Sheridan in the scrum and there were five further changes to a back division that was sliced open by the New Zealand's powerful runners last weekend. Toby Flood replaced Charlie Hodgson at fly-half, while the tough-tackling Jamie Noon brought ballast to the midfield at inside centre. The Leicester winger Tom Varndell returned to the team after two years out of the international picture and Mathew Tait started his first Test since the World Cup final. New Zealand gave Test debuts to outside centre Richard Kahui and winger Rudi Wulf, who broke his neck in a swimming pool accident just two years ago.

England came into the game determined to cut out the careless errors that cost them in Auckland - but promptly made two to fall 3-0 down inside the first two minutes. Hooker Lee Mears lost possession on his own 22 and Carter slotted a simple shot from in front of the posts when the tourists were penalised for killing the ball.

James Haskell ripped the ball from Rodney So'oialo and England threatened when the Wasps flanker attacked the blind-side from a neat lineout move. England were building some momentum but when Flood's up and under went too long, the All Blacks counter-attacked in typically ruthless fashion. Sitiveni Sivivatu started the move and Carter surged past Noon before slipping a delightful inside ball for Kahui to race over for the try. New Zealand were 10-0 up after just 12 minutes.

Tait hunted down his own punt forward and his tackle on Ali Williams forced the All Blacks lock out of the game with an ankle injury. After Tait had halted one New Zealand surge, Flood produced a try-saving tackle on Kahui just yards from the England line after the All Blacks had counter-attacked again, this time from a quick lineout inside their own half.

Carter extended New Zealand's advantage with a second penalty from the touchline before missing a high ball in his own 22 that gave England a sniff of the line. Narraway sent Varndell racing down the left but All Blacks full-back Leon MacDonald made it across and forced the Leicester winger's knee into touch as he dived for the line. Carter nearly made amends when he rose above Care to claim a chip kick but Tait and Noon did well to get under the ball and hold him up.

New Zealand attacked straight from the back of the resulting scrum and, just as they did three times last week, scored directly from the set-piece as Carter raced through a gaping hole between Tindall and Tait. Just before the scrum, New Zealand captain Richie McCaw limped off and he was soon followed to the sidelines by Flood, who had hurt his shoulder in the tackle on Kahui.

Tait chanced his arm with a chip forward into the All Blacks 22 after beating Adam Thomson on the outside and the bounce defeated Andy Ellis. But just as Tait stretched to claim the loose ball, Ellis recovered and punched it out of his grasp and England went into the break without scoring.

There was very little change in England's fortunes immediately after the restart as Barkley, who had replaced Flood, missed a penalty from right in front of the posts. Barkley also seemed to injure his leg at the same time, causing concern on the bench with no natural fly-half back-up left.

At the other end, the reliable Carter suffered no such difficulties and fired over another long-range effort after James Haskell was penalised for offside, conceding an extra 10 metres by throwing the ball away. England's attacking game lacked any real shape but they rumbled forward into the All Blacks 22 and after New Zealand were penalised at the scrum, Care darted over for a debut try. Barkley landed the conversion from near the touchline - but Care's effort was immediately cancelled out as New Zealand launched another devastating raid.

Carter found Sivivatu, who shredded England's defence before releasing Ma'a Nonu to score a brilliant try. England began to ring the changes, with Tom Rees and Luke Narraway both replaced in the back row by Joe Worsley and Tom Croft. And England were next on the scoresheet, when Care and Tait combined to set up Varndell. But it was to be Tait's final contribution and he departed after coming out worse from a clash with Kahui that left the Sale man bleeding from the head.

Carter was finally removed by New Zealand with three minutes to go, having been responsible for 22 of the Kiwis' points. But the free-scoring home side were not finished, and Jimmy Cowan bundled over in the final minute to cap a desperate tour for England.