Johnny Sexton gives Simon Zebo a hug after he scores important try
Irish eyes were smiling at Soldier Field in Chicago today when Ireland beat the Rugby World Champions, the All Blacks, for the first time since they started playing them in 1905, and ended the Kiwis’ record run of consecutive victories at 18.
There were no excuses for the All Blacks and nor did they make any. It was their first loss since they played the Wallabies in Sydney last year.
First half
The Irish got the first points on the board early through a Sexton penalty, but Kiwi Naholo crossed the chalk moments later when he burst through the line in the middle of the park and Moala was lucky to pounce on a ball that ricocheted off Read’s face. Try. Barrett missed the conversion so the score was 5-3 to NZ.
All Black Joe Moody went to the bin the 7th minute for a dangerous tackle opening the door for the Irish to kick the to the corner – and Murphy scored their first try off an excellent rolling maul from the lineout. 10-5 Ireland.
Moody’s transgression marked something that would plague the All Blacks the whole game: uncharacteristically poor discipline—and handling was not up to their standard either. They conceded four penalties, received a yellow, and a missed a goal kick, inside ten minutes.
Ill discipline cost the All Blacks
They were flat and had no momentum, and did not not improve during the game, conceding eight more penalties and turning the ball over 17 times to a hungry Irish attack.
The All Blacks found themselves under huge pressure on the 15 minute mark after a Sexton kick pinned them in their half. When Rob Kearney (15) took the ball on the All Black 22 and split the defence he was brought down just inches from the line. Powerful flanker CJ Stander picked up the ball and dived over for Ireland to lead 15-5.
In the middle of the half the All Blacks were surviving on scraps of possession and had bad field position, with a 6-1 penalty count against them. Finally the All Blacks earned a reprieve by turning defence into attack which caused an Irish mistake inside their own half. That produced a penalty for Barrett to convert into a confidence-boosting three points. Ireland 15-8 with a quarter of the game gone.
Conor Murray – had a fine game
The first scrum of the game at the 25 minute mark held up steady for the Irish on the All Blacks 22. Scrums were steady all night.
The All Blacks began to attack from within their own half in the second quarter but Ireland met them fast and hard in defence. The All Blacks continued to attack laterally, contacting the Irish defensive line three to four passes wide of the breakdown, whereas the Irish consistently played 1-2 men wide of the ruck all day.
To finish out the half the All Blacks fluffed another lineout and Ireland kicked the ball to Naholo who spilled it inside his 22. Ireland fed the second scrum of the game giving them a strong platform to take it to the middle of the park. From the breakdown scrumhalf Murray faked a pass from the ruck fooling pillar Aaron Smith, who had done the same to many others, and he hared off to under the crossbar to score a brilliant try from 20 metres out.
The 62,000 crowd went wild.
Half time score: Ireland 25 – All Blacks 8.
Beauden Barrett can’t find the handle
Second half
The All Blacks attempted to up the tempo after the break but again a promising attack was thwarted by strong Irish defence, forcing a mistake and they cleared. When Ireland got in a good position they could have taken a penalty kick at goal from a high tackle but they elected for a 5-metre scrum and the crowd noise was deafening.
The All Blacks were up to the task but when the maul was brought down , Murray sent the ball blind to Sexton who put winger Zebo over in the corner unopposed. 30-8 Ireland! They had scored four tries to one and and although there were still 27 minutes left to play they had a definite sniff.
The All Blacks attack yet again in the middle of the field and go from the right to the left. All the ball gets out to Savea with space in front of him but Trindle (14) is his match and the big Kiwi is in touch. Finally, after more possession the All Blacks find a hole with an inside ball when Hurricanes team-mates Dane Coles (2) and TJ Peranara (21) combine to score behind the posts.
All Black grabs a leg
Moments later they steal Ireland lineout ball and Sam Cane went on a storming run ten metres inside the Irish 22. The ball was spun wide from the breakdown as Ben Smith was judged by the TMO to have scored in the opposite corner. Barrett converts to bring the margin to 30-22. With 20 minutes to go, smart money might still have been on the All Blacks.
But maybe not – yet another silly penalty gifts the Irish three points off the kick off as Coles takes out an Irish player: 33-22. Crucial plays win matches and Zebo (11) took a fantastic high take off a Connor Murray box kick moments later to keep pressure on the All Blacks.
Another crucial play in the game came in the 64th minute as All Black debutant Scott Barrett burst though the line on short ball from second receiver inside the Irish 22 all the way though to score. His brother Beauden converts for a 33-29 ball game with 15 minutes to go and most people would still put their money on an All Black win from here.
Scott Barrett – “little” brother had a fine debut and scored a classy try
New Zealand continued to attack from their own half and despite multiple phases and gaining ground the Irish were able to force All Black mistakes including a Savea knock on the left flank and a Beauden Barrett knock on inside his own half. Irish replacement flyhalf Carberry (22) continued to punt the ball into the All Blacks’ half. Even with ten minutes left to go most people would still put their money on the All Blacks given the weight of history and recent form – and just a four-point margin.
Inside the final ten, yet another mistake from the All Blacks deep inside the Irish half is ended by a prop Charlie Faumauina (18) knock on. Moments later after regaining possession All Blacks’ Liam Squire (6) spills the ball forward in a Trindle (14) tackle. The All Blacks cannot get through.
The defining score of the game came with five minutes to play when Irish Winger Zebo (11) chipped the ball down the left flank but Cruden (22) and Savea (11) failed to clear and instead were tackled in-goal. Off the back of the ensuing scrum Heaslip (8) passed inside to Henshaw (12) who beat three tacklers to stretch over and score for a fifth Ireland try.
At 40-29 with just five minutes remaining your money on the All Blacks looks gone now along with their 111 year record against the Irish. Beauden Barrett capped off an average game by knocking the ball on inside his 22 with two minutes left.
Full time score: Ireland 40 – All Blacks 29.
Ireland players celebrate an historic victory
The wrap up
Despite the difference of just eleven points there was hardly an area where Ireland did not edge the All Blacks. The Kiwis hardly ever had a chance to put on their signature ensemble tries from their own half because of pressure from the green tide.
Although Ireland was flat for some parts of the second half the All Blacks were so for longer periods, and for once didn’t seem to know what to do as a group at key moments.
Like every other team has often, they had a bad day; they will regret the end of their winning streak, but we know they will pick themselves up.
Ireland rugby needed this win after their poor Six Nations and they will look forward to repeating the dose in a few weeks’ time in Dublin.
Rugby fans in general will be happy for them and, truth be told, the loss of the All Blacks will be good for the game.
All Black players shocked as they realise their winning streak had to come to an end
The Game Changer
The defining moment of the match was the try to Conor Murray just before the break. This turned the game to a 25-8 half time lead and the All Blacks then required more than two converted tries to win the game. This psychological advantage was huge going into the break.
Men of the match
The Irish tight five of Devin Toner, Donnacha Ryan, Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (c), and Jack McGrath had the best of their opponents all day. The held their own in the scrum, won the lineouts and mauls, tackled ferociously all day winning turnovers and protecting Irish ball and disrupting All Blacks’ ball.
The Details
[one_half last=”no”]Ireland – 40
Tries: J. Murphy (9′), CJ Stander (16′), C. Murray (33′), S. Zebo (47′), R. Henshaw (75′).
Conversions: J. Sexton (10′, 34′), J. Carberry (76′).
Penalties: J. Sexton (3′, 23′), C. Murray (58′).
[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]New Zealand – 29
Tries: G. Moala (4′), TJ Perenara (51′), B. Smith (55′), S. Barrett (62′).
Conversions: B. Barrett (51′, 55′, 64′).
Penalty: B. Barrett (20′).[/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]Cards: J. Moody 7′ (Yellow). [/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]Crowd: 62,000 [/one_half]
Get more match information from NZ Herald.
Chicago – Ireland v All Blacks highlights
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