There was to be no first win on home soil for Ireland against the All Blacks as the World Champions gained revenge for their defeat two weeks ago in Chicago in a pulsating and at times feisty test match at the Aviva Stadium.
The All Blacks clearly still hurting from Soldier Field took only three minutes to get the game’s opening try.
Ireland won a turnover on halfway but Conor Murray kicked possession away, the world champions worked the ball through 12 phases with Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read going close to scoring before out half Beauden Barrett put in a cross field kick for Malakai Fekitoa, the centre side stepped Murray before avoiding Jared Payne’s tackle to touch down and Barrett converted.
Ireland responded positively, from a five metre scrum, Jamie Heaslip picked up from the base and drove, the ball was recycled and CJ Stander drove over but was held up however New Zealand strayed offside in the build up and Johnny Sexton knocked over the penalty.
New Zealand flanker Sam Cane was lucky to only concede a penalty for a high shot on Robbie Henshaw which saw the Irish centre leave the pitch on a stretcher after 10 minutes.
New Zealand were awarded a controversial try on 14 minutes, from a scrum on halfway Barrett glided through the Irish defence, as he was going over the try line Sexton appeared to have ripped the ball from his grasp, despite no clear evidence of the ball being grounded the TMO gave the score and Barrett converted.
New Zealand had scrum half Aaron Smith yellow carded on 17 minutes for kicking the ball out of the ruck.
Ulster’s Paddy Jackson landed a penalty on 24 minutes after New Zealand were caught offside.
Barrett had a try disallowed on 29 minutes when he knocked the ball out of Jackson’s hand gathered and sprinted over but it was adjudged a knock on, there was no further scoring in the first half and the All Blacks went into the interval with a 14-6 lead.
Fekitoa was sin binned on 48 minutes for a high tackle on Simon Zebo.
Heaslip throught he’d scored a try when he pounced on a loose ball to go over but there was a knock on in the build up.
Jackson narrowed the gap to five points with a 58th minute penalty after All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown went off his feet at the ruck.
The All Blacks got their third try from a slick move on 66 minutes.
From a poor clearance kick out of defence by Jackson full back Ben Smith started a counter attack carrying deep into Irish territory, Barrett exchanged passes with Lienert-Brown, he fed replacement scrum half TJ Perenara and he put Fekitoa over, the try was allowed to stand despite the hint of a forward pass and Barrett converted.
// TEAMS
Ireland: R Kearney, A Trimble, J Payne, R Henshaw, S Zebo, J Sexton, C Murray, J McGrath, R Best, T Furlong; D Toner, D Ryan; CJ Stander, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin for Best 67 mins, C Healy for McGrath 58 mins, F Bealham for Furlong 67 mins, I Henderson for Ryan 58mins, J van der Flier for Stander 22 mins, K Marmion fro Zebo 72 mins, P Jackson for Sexton 17 mins, G Ringrose for Henshaw 10 mins.
New Zealand: B Smith, I Dagg, M Fekitoa, A Lienert-Brown, J Savea; B Barrett, A Smith, J Moody, D Coles, O Franks; B Retallick, S Whitelock; L Squire, S Can, K Read.
Replacements:C Taylor for Coles 68 mins, W Crockett for Moody 48 mins, C Faumuina for Franks 51 mins, S Barrett for Squire 68 mins, A Savea afro Cane 17 mins, TJ Perenara for A Smith 59 mins, A Cruden for J Savea 58 mins, W Naholo fro B Smith.
Ref: J Peyper (South Africa)
The All Blacks clearly still hurting from Soldier Field took only three minutes to get the game’s opening try.
Ireland won a turnover on halfway but Conor Murray kicked possession away, the world champions worked the ball through 12 phases with Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read going close to scoring before out half Beauden Barrett put in a cross field kick for Malakai Fekitoa, the centre side stepped Murray before avoiding Jared Payne’s tackle to touch down and Barrett converted.
Ireland responded positively, from a five metre scrum, Jamie Heaslip picked up from the base and drove, the ball was recycled and CJ Stander drove over but was held up however New Zealand strayed offside in the build up and Johnny Sexton knocked over the penalty.
New Zealand flanker Sam Cane was lucky to only concede a penalty for a high shot on Robbie Henshaw which saw the Irish centre leave the pitch on a stretcher after 10 minutes.
New Zealand were awarded a controversial try on 14 minutes, from a scrum on halfway Barrett glided through the Irish defence, as he was going over the try line Sexton appeared to have ripped the ball from his grasp, despite no clear evidence of the ball being grounded the TMO gave the score and Barrett converted.
New Zealand had scrum half Aaron Smith yellow carded on 17 minutes for kicking the ball out of the ruck.
Ulster’s Paddy Jackson landed a penalty on 24 minutes after New Zealand were caught offside.
Barrett had a try disallowed on 29 minutes when he knocked the ball out of Jackson’s hand gathered and sprinted over but it was adjudged a knock on, there was no further scoring in the first half and the All Blacks went into the interval with a 14-6 lead.
Fekitoa was sin binned on 48 minutes for a high tackle on Simon Zebo.
Heaslip throught he’d scored a try when he pounced on a loose ball to go over but there was a knock on in the build up.
Jackson narrowed the gap to five points with a 58th minute penalty after All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown went off his feet at the ruck.
The All Blacks got their third try from a slick move on 66 minutes.
From a poor clearance kick out of defence by Jackson full back Ben Smith started a counter attack carrying deep into Irish territory, Barrett exchanged passes with Lienert-Brown, he fed replacement scrum half TJ Perenara and he put Fekitoa over, the try was allowed to stand despite the hint of a forward pass and Barrett converted.
// TEAMS
Ireland: R Kearney, A Trimble, J Payne, R Henshaw, S Zebo, J Sexton, C Murray, J McGrath, R Best, T Furlong; D Toner, D Ryan; CJ Stander, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin for Best 67 mins, C Healy for McGrath 58 mins, F Bealham for Furlong 67 mins, I Henderson for Ryan 58mins, J van der Flier for Stander 22 mins, K Marmion fro Zebo 72 mins, P Jackson for Sexton 17 mins, G Ringrose for Henshaw 10 mins.
New Zealand: B Smith, I Dagg, M Fekitoa, A Lienert-Brown, J Savea; B Barrett, A Smith, J Moody, D Coles, O Franks; B Retallick, S Whitelock; L Squire, S Can, K Read.
Replacements:C Taylor for Coles 68 mins, W Crockett for Moody 48 mins, C Faumuina for Franks 51 mins, S Barrett for Squire 68 mins, A Savea afro Cane 17 mins, TJ Perenara for A Smith 59 mins, A Cruden for J Savea 58 mins, W Naholo fro B Smith.
Ref: J Peyper (South Africa)