With tomorrow’s game in Chicago ahead of us, Gavin Spillane looks back on Ireland’s last five meetings with the All Blacks.
New Zealand 24 Ireland 22; November 24, 2013
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Positives: The first 60 minutes. The Irish performance- Schmidt’s third game as coach- had plenty of incision, vigour and heart. Cian Healy was at his robust best, the Irish defence was ferocious and New Zealand looked rattled when Rob Kearney latched onto Israel Dagg’s dropped pass and raced clear for Ireland’s third try after 17 minutes. Despite the heartbreaking defeat, this game was the focal point in Ireland becoming back-to-back Six Nations champions.
Negatives: As impressive as the All Blacks’ winning mentality is, failing to put them away after scoring 19 unanswered points remains the greatest ever missed chance in Irish rugby.
What went wrong for Ireland: The influential Rory Best departing with a broken arm minutes after scoring the first try was a blow. Sean O’Brien’s influence at the breakdown was diminished in the second half after Nigel Owens warned him he was risking a yellow card but it was those last 10 minutes that unravelled Ireland.
A revitalised New Zealand team, led by the injection of pace that Beauden Barrett brought off the bench, caused Ireland to give away a decisive penalty which the All Blacks expertly worked into a winning, and heartbreaking, score in stoppage time.
Key moment: There were a few; Sexton was presented with a penalty from a driving maul to make it an 8 point game in the 73rd minute, but nudged it right. Steven Luatua preventing the ball from going into touch with an audacious offload was also noteworthy as it led to Julian Savea’s try minutes later and of course, Ryan Crotty’s last-gasp score.
Sidenotes: Andrew Hore’s 83rd and last appearance for the All Blacks.
IRELAND: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D Toner, P O’Connell; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; C Jane, B Smith, M Nonu, J Savea; Cruden, A Smith; W Crockett, A Hore, C Faumuina; B Retallick, S Whitelock; S Luatua, R McCaw, K Read
New Zealand 60 Ireland 0; June 23, 2012
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Positives: Not much to take from this. Peter O’Mahony’s performance at number eight underpinned the leaps and bounds he made as a player in the 2011-12 season but aside from that, it was a dark day in Irish rugby.
Negatives: Where to begin? The heaviest defeat Ireland have ever suffered. A toothless attack and a pourous defence made for a monumental drubbing.
What went wrong for Ireland: Fatigue. After running the All Blacks to the brink in the second test, the last thing you want to do is play them again the next week, especially at the tail-end of an exhausting World Cup year that saw two Irish provinces go all the way to the Heineken Cup final.
Key moment: Hosea Gear’s thunderous fend on Keith Earls on his way to the tryline summed up New Zealand’s ruthlessness. The All Blacks ran in tries for fun past a beaten, bloodied and bowed Irish defence.
Sidenotes: Beauden Barrett made his debut for the All Blacks
IRELAND: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, P Wallace, K Earls; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D Tuohy, D Ryan; K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, P O’Mahony
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S Williams, H Gear; A Cruden, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks; L Romano, S Whitelock; L Messam, S Cane, R McCaw
New Zealand 22 Ireland 19; June 16, 2012
Rugby League Stadium, Christchurch
Positives: Ireland dominated from the off and held the All Blacks scoreless for the majority of the first half.
Donnacha Ryan was at the forefront of Ireland’s physicality, as was Jamie Heaslip and they never looked in more control of a game when Ronan O’Gara came on and Sexton pushed over one into the inside centre channel.
Negatives: Another chance at creating history squandered, although not much could be faulted here, besides Ireland allowed New Zealand to get their second half up and running with a try from Aaron Smith.
What went wrong for Ireland: Again fatigue. Ireland wilted in the last 10 minutes in their 15th game of the season compared to New Zealand’s second. This resulted in the two drop goal opportunities that Carter was presented, the second of which he slotted.
Key moment: Carter’s 79th minute drop goal.
Sidenotes: Ireland’s first ever match in Christchurch
IRELAND: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D Tuohy, D Ryan; K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, J Heaslip
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; Z Guildford, C Smith, S Williams, J Savea; D Carter, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks; B Retallick, S Whitelock; A Thomson, R McCaw, J Heaslip
New Zealand 42 Ireland 10, Eden Park; June 9, 2012
Positives: Ireland gave New Zealand a tough run in Eden Park and even managed to pinch a few turnovers through O’Mahony and O’Brien while Zebo came close to a try on two occasions in the first half of his debut. McFadden also scored after some good work by Best and Sexton.
Negatives: Defence were quick to fold as Julian Savea ran in three tries
What went wrong for Ireland: The gulf in class between the sides as well as the contrasting levels of confidence. New Zealand came off the back of a World Cup triumph while Ireland had some soul-searching to do following a heavy defeat at the hands of England in Twickenham.
Key moment: Julian Savea’s second try killed off the game for Ireland as a contest. McFadden was drawn in by Dagg, who then released the juggernaut winger for a try that made the score 23-3
Sidenotes: Simon Zebo, Declan Fitzpatrick and Ronan Loughney made their debuts for Ireland while Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea and Aaron Smith made their debuts for New Zealand.
IRELAND: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, K Earls, S Zebo; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, D Fitzpatrick; D Tuohy, D Ryan; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; Z Guildford, C Smith, S Williams, J Savea; D Carter, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks; B Retallick, S Whitelock; V Vito, R McCaw, K Read
New Zealand 38 Ireland 18; November 20, 2010
Aviva Stadium
Positives: Some real attacking intent from Declan Kidney’s men. Ireland matched New Zealand in the physical ranks as Jamie Heaslip picked off a good line and offloaded to Stephen Ferris, who dominated his opposite number Jerome Kaino all evening. The big Ulster flanker cantered in for a try in the 29th minute that stung New Zealand into playing.
After being bullied by a Springbok pack two weeks previous, Ireland stood up to the All Blacks and were unlucky not to score a third try through Keith Earls.
Negatives: The setpiece. Ireland struggled in the scrum with Tom Court at tighthead prop and so too with Sean Cronin in the lineout. As well as this, Rob Kearney picked up a nasty knee injury in the second half.
What went wrong for Ireland?: Tried to take New Zealand on at their own game. Ireland implemented an open, touchline to touchline, style game and ultimately paid the price in the second half as fatigue played a big part, although the scoreboard slightly flattered the All Blacks, thanks to a late try from Kieran Read.
Key moment: Brian O’Driscoll’s one handed scoop for Ireland’s second try at full tilt. A bit of magic.
Sidenotes: New Zealand’ legends Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina earned their 93rd caps, surpassing Sean Fitzpatrick as the most-capped All Blacks in history.
IRELAND R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Best, T Court; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll; S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip
NEW ZEALAND M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, H Gear; D Carter, A Ellis; T Woodcock, H Elliot, O Franks, A Boric, T Donnelly; J Kaino, R McCaw, K Read
