New Zealand enjoyed back-to-back wins in the Autumn Nations series with a 23-13 victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.
Damian McKenzie kicked 18 points as the All Blacks condemned their opponents to a first defeat in 20 home matches.
McKenzie and Jack Crowley exchanged kicks during a cagey first half, at the end of which Ireland were handed a numerical advantage when Jordie Barrett was sin-binned for a high tackle on Garry Ringrose.
Andy Farrell’s side capitalised early in the second half as Josh van der Flier touched down within four minutes of the restart.
However, back to full-strength, New Zealand soon regained their advantage, with McKenzie kicking them into an 18-13 lead.
The All Blacks then increased their advantage to 10 points and subsequently put the game beyond Ireland 10 minutes from time, neatly working the ball from side to side before an unmarked Will Jordan crossed the line.
Talking Point – Indiscipline hampers Irish as winning streak stalls
On home soil, Ireland had not looked back since losing to France during the 2021 Six Nations, going on to win each of their next 19 matches.
However, an uncharacteristic combination of handling errors and a high penalty count saw New Zealand prove to be their nemesis once more.
The All Blacks prevailed in their most recent encounter at last year’s World Cup, and came out on top once more this time around.
Their metres gained tally was more than double that of Ireland (459-202), who conceded 13 penalties and missed 30 tackles during the 80 minutes.
Player of the Match – Damian McKenzie
Successful with six of his eight attempts, McKenzie’s kicking ultimately proved the difference between the sides.
It was a very impressive display by the fly-half, who beat the most defenders (six) and produced the most offloads (four) over the 80 minutes, while no player gained more metres (90, level with Jordan).
Player Ratings
Ireland: Keenan 6, Hansen 7, Ringrose 7, Aki 6, Lowe 7, Crowley 7, Gibson-Park 8, Porter 7, Kelleher 7, Bealham 7, McCarthy 7, Ryan 6, Beirne 7, Van der Flier 8, Doris 7.
Replacements: Herring 6, Healy N/A, O’Toole 6, Henderson 6, O’Mahony 6, Murray N/A, Frawley 6, Osborne 6.
New Zealand: Jordan 8, Tele’a 7, John 7, J. Barrett 7, Clarke 6, McKenzie 9*, Ratima 7, Williams 7, Aumua 8, Lomax 7, S. Barrett 7, Vaa’I 7, Sititi 7, Cane 7 , Savea 8.
Replacements: Bell N/A, Tu’ungafasi 6, Tosi 6, Tuipulotu 6, Finau 6, Roigard 6, Leinert-Brown 6, Perofeta N/A.
Match Highlights
22’ GOOD TACKLE: New Zealand push again with McKenzie leading the charge. The fly-half has Tele’a for support but, before he can offload, Gibson-Park makes a superb tackle to stop him in his tracks. The All Blacks’ momentum is then halted further by a knock-on that allows Ireland to regain possession.
40’ PENALTY! IRELAND 6-9 NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand are reduced to 14 men with Jordie Barrett sent to the bin after catching Ringrose with his shoulder during a high tackle. Crowley subsequently halves the deficit with the final kick of the first half.
44′ TRY! IRELAND 13-9 NEW ZEALAND (VAN DER FLIER): Ireland’s bright start to the second half culminates in Van der Flier touching down. From a tight angle, Crowley impressively converts five points into seven.
70’ TRY! IRELAND 13-23 NEW ZEALAND (JORDAN): Breathing space for the visitors, who superbly work the ball from left to right and back. Aumua is found and offloads to the unmarked Jordan, who can charge to the line. McKenzie cannot convert, as he pulls his attempt wide of the posts.
Key Stats
Ireland suffered their first defeat in 20 home matches since losing to France during the 2021 Six Nations
Will Jordan scored his 37th try for New Zealand. That moves him joint-eight and level with Rieko Ioane and the great Jonah Lomu on his country’s all-time list
New Zealand’s Dominance Continues: A Cheeky Look at Their Victory Over Ireland
Well, would you look at that? The All Blacks have managed to pull off a 23-13 victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, making it back-to-back wins in the Autumn Nations series. Apparently, the Irish team misplaced their “How to Win at Home” handbook somewhere during that match!
Damian McKenzie was the star of the night, kicking an impressive 18 points. I mean, if only the Irish could kick their penalties with the same *gusto*! This result also meant that poor Ireland’s home-winning streak of 19 matches came crashing down faster than a house of cards in a windstorm. Talk about a plot twist that even Rowan Atkinson couldn’t have written!
Match Highlights: A Show of Class and Carelessness
Now, let’s break it down. In a first half that can only be described as cagey — perfect for a game of chess, but possibly a bit too tame for rugby — McKenzie and Jack Crowley exchanged kicks like it was a fancy tennis match. But just when you thought things were about to get exciting, Ireland’s Jordie Barrett decided the best way to stop danger was to give Garry Ringrose a solid high five… with his shoulder. Cue the sin-bin shenanigans!
Fast forward to the second half, and suddenly, the Irish are playing like they’ve consumed a hearty breakfast of mistakes and missed tackles. Josh van der Flier dove over for a quick try, and for a moment, it looked like Ireland were ready to erupt like a volcano. But clearly, the All Blacks had other plans!
As soon as New Zealand fielded their full team again, it was like they flipped a switch. McKenzie kicked them back into the lead, strutting around like it was catwalk season in Paris. And just when you thought Ireland might rally, Will Jordan scored the final nail in their coffin by crossing the line with skill that could make even a squirrel look clumsy.
Talking Point: Indiscipline Stifles Irish Endeavour
The real talking point, however, is that indiscipline. Ireland had a long-standing winning streak on home turf, which has now been interrupted by a combination of handling errors and a high penalty count. Thirteen penalties? That’s about as coordinated as a cat on a hot tin roof! And let’s not forget the 30 missed tackles. At this rate, they might as well put “Welcome” mats on the ground for New Zealand to walk all over!
Player of the Match: Damian McKenzie
Damian McKenzie was named Player of the Match and delivered a display that can only be described as phenomenal. Successful with six of his eight attempts, he beat six defenders and managed to offload the ball four times over 80 minutes. If that doesn’t scream “I’m here to play,” I don’t know what does! Just try to keep up, Ireland!
Player Ratings: A Mixed Bag
Ireland:
Keenan 6, Hansen 7, Ringrose 7, Aki 6, Lowe 7, Crowley 7, Gibson-Park 8, Porter 7, Kelleher 7, Bealham 7, McCarthy 7, Ryan 6, Beirne 7, Van der Flier 8, Doris 7.
Replacements: Herring 6, Healy N/A, O’Toole 6, Henderson 6, O’Mahony 6, Murray N/A, Frawley 6, Osborne 6.
New Zealand:
Jordan 8, Tele’a 7, John 7, J. Barrett 7, Clarke 6, McKenzie 9*, Ratima 7, Williams 7, Aumua 8, Lomax 7, S. Barrett 7, Vaa’I 7, Sititi 7, Cane 7, Savea 8.
Replacements: Bell N/A, Tu’ungafasi 6, Tosi 6, Tuipulotu 6, Finau 6, Roigard 6, Leinert-Brown 6, Perofeta N/A.
Key Stats: The Numbers Game
New Zealand’s victory not only marked Ireland’s first home defeat in 20 matches since the 2021 Six Nations, but Will Jordan also notched up his 37th try for the All Blacks, tying him with the legends like Rieko Ioane and none other than Jonah Lomu! Now that’s a legacy worth running towards!
Final Thoughts
In the grand scheme of rugby, this match serves as a powerful reminder that in sport, composure is just as crucial as sheer talent. So, Ireland, take a bow for the effort but remember to pick up those missed tackles next time around! Until then, cheers to the All Blacks for showing us how it’s done!
In a thrilling clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, New Zealand showcased their rugby prowess by clinching a 23-13 victory over Ireland, marking their second consecutive triumph in the Autumn Nations series on Friday night.
Damian McKenzie emerged as the standout performer, contributing a remarkable 18 points, and consequently handed Ireland their first home defeat in two years, a streak that had seen them undefeated in 20 matches at home.
The match began tentatively, with McKenzie and Jack Crowley trading penalties through a tense first half. Tensions escalated when Ireland received a numerical advantage after Jordie Barrett was sin-binned for a reckless high tackle on Garry Ringrose just before the halftime whistle.
Showing resilience, Andy Farrell’s Irish team struck early in the second half, with Josh van der Flier scoring a well-executed try just four minutes after the restart, momentarily igniting hopes of a comeback.
Yet, once restored to full strength, New Zealand quickly recovered and surged ahead. McKenzie’s precise kicking saw the All Blacks establish an 18-13 lead, setting the stage for their eventual dominance.
As the clock ticked down, New Zealand cemented their victory with an expertly executed move, swinging the ball across the field before a completely unmarked Will Jordan sprinted for a decisive try, effectively putting the game beyond Ireland’s reach with just 10 minutes left to play.
Talking Point – Indiscipline hampers Irish as winning streak stalls
Prior to this match, Ireland had not tasted defeat on their home turf since a disappointing loss to France in the 2021 Six Nations. They had since embarked on an impressive run, amassing 19 victories.
However, the All Blacks proved to be a challenging opponent once again, effectively exploiting Ireland’s uncharacteristic handling errors and a significant penalty count that marred their performance throughout the match.
New Zealand’s previous victory over Ireland in last year’s World Cup set a precedent, and this encounter reaffirmed their status as Ireland’s arch-nemesis.
In terms of attacking threats, the All Blacks dominated the statistics with a staggering 459 metres gained compared to Ireland’s 202, while Ireland’s defensive struggles were evident with 13 penalties conceded and 30 missed tackles recorded over the course of the game.
Player of the Match – Damian McKenzie
Damian McKenzie played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s success, successfully converting six out of eight kicking attempts, which ultimately proved crucial in their victory.
The fly-half’s performance was stellar, making him the player who managed to beat the most defenders on the field (six), while also showcasing remarkable vision with the highest number of offloads (four) throughout the match. He also matched Will Jordan in gaining the most ground, amassing 90 metres during play.
Player Ratings
Ireland: Keenan 6, Hansen 7, Ringrose 7, Aki 6, Lowe 7, Crowley 7, Gibson-Park 8, Porter 7, Kelleher 7, Bealham 7, McCarthy 7, Ryan 6, Beirne 7, Van der Flier 8, Doris 7.
New Zealand: Jordan 8, Tele’a 7, John 7, J. Barrett 7, Clarke 6, McKenzie 9*, Ratima 7, Williams 7, Aumua 8, Lomax 7, S. Barrett 7, Vaa’I 7, Sititi 7, Cane 7, Savea 8.
Match Highlights
40’ PENALTY! IRELAND 6-9 NEW ZEALAND: Facing a crucial moment, New Zealand’s Jordie Barrett was sent to the bin after a high tackle on Ringrose. Crowley seized the opportunity to reduce the deficit with the final kick of the first half, injecting some hope into Ireland’s challenge.
44’ TRY! IRELAND 13-9 NEW ZEALAND (VAN DER FLIER): Ireland’s resurgence at the beginning of the second half bore fruit as van der Flier touched down following a clever offensive play. Crowley confidently converted the try, temporarily igniting the Irish crowd.
70’ TRY! IRELAND 13-23 NEW ZEALAND (JORDAN): New Zealand effectively sealed their victory with a well-coordinated attack that confused the Irish defense. Aumua found Jordan in space, allowing him to sprint to the line unchallenged, although McKenzie wasn’t able to convert successfully.
Key Stats
Will Jordan’s try marked a significant achievement as he scored his 37th try for New Zealand, placing him joint-eighth on the country’s all-time try-scoring list, now sharing the spot with legends Rieko Ioane and Jonah Lomu.
Ose 7, Aki 6, Lowe 7, Crowley 7, Gibson-Park 8, Porter 7, Kelleher 7, Bealham 7, McCarthy 7, Ryan 6, Beirne 7, Van der Flier 8, Doris 7.
Replacements: Herring 6, Healy N/A, O’Toole 6, Henderson 6, O’Mahony 6, Murray N/A, Frawley 6, Osborne 6.
New Zealand:
Jordan 8, Tele’a 7, John 7, J. Barrett 7, Clarke 6, McKenzie 9*, Ratima 7, Williams 7, Aumua 8, Lomax 7, S. Barrett 7, Vaa’I 7, Sititi 7, Cane 7, Savea 8.
Replacements: Bell N/A, Tu’ungafasi 6, Tosi 6, Tuipulotu 6, Finau 6, Roigard 6, Leinert-Brown 6, Perofeta N/A.
Key Stats: The Numbers Game
New Zealand’s triumph claimed Ireland’s first home defeat in 20 matches since the 2021 Six Nations. Will Jordan’s try was his 37th for the All Blacks, putting him in esteemed company with legends like Rieko Ioane and Jonah Lomu. It’s a remarkable milestone for a talented player!
Final Thoughts
This match serves as a vital reminder in the realm of rugby that discipline and execution are just as critical as talent. Ireland put forth an impressive effort, but their lapses created crucial opportunities for New Zealand. Here’s to the All Blacks and their magnificent cohesion! Here’s hoping for a resurgence from Ireland in their upcoming fixtures!