Ireland 13-26 New Zealand: rugby union Test – as it happened
The report has landed and that’s my cue to leave.Thanks for joining me.Well done to New Zealand who got their revenge across a scrappy game.Still, a win is a win.See you all next week.
We’ve had some correspondence from John Davis:“Evening Daniel.I am thoroughly against the 20 min red card; we have to protect player health and allowing a team to bring a player on after 20 min makes a travesty of that.However, after THAT decision I’m starting to see some upside.”Quite right.On reflection I think that’s the worst red card I’ve seen given in a Test match.
While we wait for the report, let’s take a gander at what Sam Warburton – for my money the best talker on rugby in the world – had to say:“New Zealand’s handling ability off linebreaks is what separates them from most of the rugby world.”Ireland didn’t get a single line break all game.That is staggering.They were relying on broken play throughout.A lack of heft in the tight five and midfield remains a major issue for this team.
Dan Sheehan is up next:It’s a bitter pill to swallow.We never got going.We saw patches but we couldn’t paint the full picture.We were operating at 80% going into halftime.We needed a bit of extra and at times we did.
But there was a lot of inaccuracies.Hopefully we can turn it around.We said going in that we weren’t going to use [the lack of time together] as an excuse.it just didn’t click for us.We’ve got three big games back at the Aviva.
Now let’s hear from Ardie Savea:It’s cool to be here in Chicago and it’s always a good feeling to have the win.[Losing here] was nine years ago but it was good to rectify that.We’ll celebrate this win.There was frustration at the break.We couldn’t get things going.
But we managed to get our flow,Here’s the man of the match, Fabian Holland:It was a massive game for us,Credit to Ireland, they’re a great side,Stoked to get the win,We wanted to make a statement at the start of this tour.
We just talked about backing each other up and that’s what we did.With Scott and Jordie going off we had to adjust.Credit to the boys.It was an excellent team effort.The message at the break was to just keep playing All Black rugby, throw the ball around, have a crack and just be there for each other.
New Zealand think they’ve scored a blockbuster try at the death, but there are two forward passes so we’ll end on an anticlimactic note.The scoreline reflects the dominance of the All Blacks in the second half.They simply had too much in the tank and the Irish had no answer.Wriggled over! Off the back of the scrum, Roigard picks up and dummies.He drops a shoulder and squirms under the challenges of three defenders to get over and end this game with an emphatic score.
Barrett misses his first kick at goal,No matter,The game is well and truly over,76 min: That should be that,Ireland try and play from very deep but it’s inaccurate.
Aki’s long pass to Osborne is off the mark and the ball trickles forward.New Zealand will have the scrum feed five out from Ireland’s line.74 min: That’s a let off for Ireland as New Zealand give away possession.Was it skew? Was it because they ilelgally prevented Ireland from competing? Not sure.Things move fast in these late stages.
The important thing is Ireland have the scrum inside their own 22.They need to go across the park, score a try and then do it agin.73 min: Wave after wave of New Zealand carriers have brought it to Ireland’s 22.Three penalties in a row.NZ playing with the advantage.
Sititi heavily involved.Savea too.The pass wide to Jordan is forward so we come back for the advantage.It’s kickable on the 22.If it goes over that’ll be game over you think.
Nope, Barrett hoofs it out for a five metre line-out.One more try will certainly end this contest.69 min: Casey and Prendergast are both on to inject some zip in the backline.They do that with a neat.move but van der Flier spills in contact.
Then New Zealand win a penalty from the subsequent scrum.Momentum has well and truly shifted and it’s all with the Black Caps.Classic All Blacks! You can’t take your eyes off them.After a big territory win, Barrett gets the ball on the.front foot and delays his pass for McKenzie.
The nippy pivot bursts through a half gap and has a simple pass back inside for Sititi.The young flanker is equally quick and he slides over under the poles.The extras from the tee means that Ireland have to get going if they want to win this from here.66 min: Most teams would simply clear their lines if they won a scrum inside their own 22.New Zealand are not most teams.
A wonder pass from Rpigard finds Clarke on the left wing and he tears down field before kicking.Lowe fields and hoofs it out which means New Zealand have the line-out inside Ireland’s patch.They go over the top and keep momentum going…65 min: Ten phases from Ireland hammer the line.Lowe runs hard at Barrett near the left win.Osborne has a few neat contributions.
Then Crowley dinks over the top for O’Brien and the winger almost gets there, leaping skyward but he can’t quite catch it clean,This is a New Zealand scrum five out from their own line,The big fella is over! Rather than kick this penalty out, New Zealand tap and go,Taylor carries and shifts it to Sititi at the last second,The flanker almost goes through himself from five metres out but is hauled down.
There’s no stopping Williams though.The big lock burrows over from close range before Barrett.slots the extras to hand NZ the lead for the first time.61 min: This is such a messy game.Crowley almost put an onrushing Osborne through with a slick little pass, but the fullback spilled it.
Jordan scuffed his return kick but it bobbled into space.Holland was the chaser and managed to hold onto Crowley’s shirt, prolonging him long enough before the cavalry arrived.NZ won a penalty and kicked it out for a line-out deep in Ireland’s patch.59 min: Now Ireland get a scrum penalty.Pre-engagement this time.
The Kiwis have been their own worst enemies today,58 min: Ireland pinch the line-out as New Zealand throw to the middle,It was as if Ireland’s callers were reading the All Blacks playbook,But after a kick New Zealand are back on the ball,At least they are until Jordan spills in contact.
It’s just not happening for New Zealand.56 min: Ireland’s scrum creaks again and New Zealand get a penalty.Barrett hoofs it out for a line-out in Ireland’s half as Aki makes his way onto the pitch, replacing McCloskey in midfield.54 min: That’s a big territory win for Ireland.Thanks to James Lowe who gathered a tough kick in his own half and returned it with interest.
Then he chased with real intent and forced Barrett to rush his own kick.Ireland have the line-out throw on the All Blacks’ 22.53 min: New Zealand respond and stitch a few phases together with some slick passing, but Porter, of all people, stoops in to steal the ball.Ireland hoof upfield and here come New Zealand again.They recognise they need to get a move on.
No bother from right in front.New Zealand have conceded eight of the last 10 penalties.Ireland are grinding this out and have opened up a lead.49 min: Barret wins a kick battle with Crowley and gains territory for New Zealand.Ireland win the penalty and have it back after Lowe regainst the ball from a Gibson-Park hoist
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