All Blacks pounce on Irish errors

When Ireland last visited Eden Park in 2022, the All Blacks turned on the style to score four first-half tries in 17 minutes en route to a 42-19 win in the opening match of a three-Test series the Irish eventually won.

It was not all that different on Saturday. From the opening exchanges, the confidence gained from victories over France and Italy was clear as New Zealand pulled a scrambling Irish defence from pillar to post.

Frustratingly for Ireland, the first try came from their own carelessness in possession as James Ryan dropped the ball in the away side’s first visit to New Zealand territory.

From there, the All Blacks quickly worked their way up the field and scored when the vastly experienced Tuipulotu took a pass from second-row partner Josh Lord, blasted past Keenan and touched down.

After Savea doubled New Zealand’s advantage, Jacobson was sin-binned when his shoulder caught Van der Flier’s head at a ruck, with the Chiefs flanker fortunate to avoid a 20-minute red following a review.

With Jacobson off the pitch, Conan powered over from close range for Ireland, but their hopes of pulling level before the break were dented when record All Blacks try scorer Jordan was gifted a try following a slack pass from Stuart McCloskey close to his own tryline.

Jordan has now scored 51 tries in 57 Tests and six in seven appearances against Ireland.

Replacement hooker Aumua’s score two minutes before the break effectively killed the game as a contest.

Ronan Kelleher and Joe McCarthyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Ireland will rue a series of costly errors in the first half

McCarthy’s early score in the second half brought Ireland back to within 14 points but they failed to build further momentum before McKenzie polished off a fine All Blacks move.

Keenan’s easy finish in the corner raised Ireland’s hopes of at least securing a try bonus, but they failed to create another meaningful attacking platform before replacement back Lienert-Brown touched down with a minute to play to round out a commanding New Zealand display at their spiritual home.

While Ireland improved in the second half, head coach Andy Farrell will rue an error-riddled opening 40 minutes which left his side chasing a slick and cohesive All Blacks unit.

Following their first loss since this year’s Six Nations opener to France, the Ireland squad will start the 2026-27 season with their provinces before hosting Argentina, Fiji and world champions South Africa in the northern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship.

“The All Blacks are a classy outfit, and they’ll punish you if you’re not on your A- game, and at times we weren’t,” admitted Irish skipper Dan Sheehan.

“We wanted to test ourselves against the best, we know where we are now and we know the work we have to do because it’s a big, big year coming up leading up to the World Cup.”

Line-ups

New Zealand: McKenzie; Jordan, Tupaea, J Barrett, Moorby; Love, Roigard; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Lord, Tuipulotu, Vaa’i, Jacobson, Savea (capt).

Replacements: Aumua, Numia, Newell, Segner, Lakai, Ratima, Lienert-Brown, Clarke.

Yellow card: Jacobson (28)

Ireland: Keenan; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, J O’Brien; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; O’Toole, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Beirne, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Loughman, Clarkson, Timoney, Jansen, Casey, Frawley, Aki.

Match officials

Referee: Nic Berry (RA)

Assistant referees: Luc Ramos & Damon Murphy (RA)

Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Foul play review officer: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

Related topics

  • Rugby Union
  • Irish Rugby
  • Ireland Rugby Union
  • Northern Ireland Sport

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