🚧 Beta Version: We’re refining things - tell us what you think and help us improve!
Syncing...

IRL vs NZL

International Men's Rugby

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Ireland

vs

New Zealand

13
FT
23
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 13 - 23
That wraps things up from Tribe, but thanks for joining us. This is Ryan Nixon (@NewYorkNixon) signing off.
It's a statement game for an All Blacks side that hasn't always won favours with their fans this season, as they adapt to the new coaching of Scott Robertson. Tonight they got the job done in strong fashion, and it sets them up for a trip to Paris, and the possibility of winning three huge northern tests on the trot. For Ireland, they'll be wanting to bounce back next week against Argentina, knowing that this performance was well below their best.
For the All Blacks, they certainly weren't anywhere near their best, but did enough in a grind of a test to get the job done. Asafo Aumua and Damian McKenzie, the two question marks after being thrust into deputising this week, were two of the standouts, while the pack stood up at set piece time, even if the breakdown work was sometimes not as accurate as they'd have liked. They'll look to the impact of their bench too, with Cam Roigard making a big difference, along with solid performances from Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tuungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu.
Ireland capitalised on Jordie Barrett's yellow card to nudge their noses in front early in the second half, with Josh van der Flier crashing over, but after that they were unable to ever really threaten the All Blacks' line again. They'll be disappointed with their handling first and foremost, while they got no impact at all off their bench, with Ciaran Frawley having a horror outing, and Iain Henderson also having a night to forget. Very few stood up and enhanced their reputation in this clash, although Tadhg Beirne was the pick of their pack, and James Lowe was excellent on the left wing.
What a win for the All Blacks, silencing the Aviva to rally back in the second half, finishing the game with 14 unanswered points to secure what ended up a reasonably comfortable victory. It was by no means a classic test match, with the game marred by handling errors and ill discipline, and the teams forced into accumulating points primarily via the boot of their starting 10s. The drizzly conditions certainly didn't help matters, but I don't think either side will have been pleased with their handling or accuracy, which led to a disjointed affair. In the end though it was the All Blacks who adapted to things quicker, and their ability to hold possession for longer resulted in the points coming.
80'
The All Blacks pinch possession off the lineout, and that will be that as the All Blacks chew up the remaining seconds.
79'
Another loose pass, and Ireland lose momentum yet again. They eventually kick the ball away through Osborne, which about sums up their test. Jordie Barrett goes back, claims the ball, and hoofs it into the stand on the 10m line.
78'
After a scrum reset soaks up some precious seconds, Roigard bangs a long kick away after the scrum. That sparks a kicking duel, that eventually ends with Ireland in possession 10m outside their 22.
77'
Ireland try a little kick over the top again looking for Hansen, who gets there first, but - surprise, surprise - can't handle it cleanly. The Irish handling tonight has been downright poor, and it's probably the key reason they're about to drop this test match.