New Zealand have reasserted themselves as the best team in the world, gaining some revenge on Ireland with a 21-9 win in Dublin.
» Click here to read the full match report
» Five talking points from the match
Final score
Ireland 9
New Zealand 21
Can Ireland repeat history and tame the All Blacks again or will the World Champions bounce back and preserve their unbeaten record in Dublin? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:30am (AEDT).
A fortnight ago in Chicago, Ireland impressively outplayed the All Blacks at Soldier Field. Ireland beat the All Blacks at their own game taking calculated risks, kicking smartly and hassling the All Blacks into mistakes with their aggressive rush defense.
The only change to Joe Schmidt’s starting XV is the addition of openside flanker Sean O’Brien, who returns from injury at the expense of Leinster flanker Jordi Murphy. Much of Ireland success will depend on disrupting the All Blacks at set-piece as they did in the Windy City and reproducing a similar accuracy and passion.
The All Blacks are close to full strength, with only injuries preventing Steve Hansen from naming his very top team.
The much-needed return of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock should bolster the All Blacks line-out which suffered two weeks ago. The country’s two premier locks replace Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino who is has a calf strain.
Highlanders rookie Liam Squire takes the No.6 jersey in Kaino’s absence, as he did a fortnight ago, while his disgraced Super Rugby teammate Aaron Smith has been shown faith by the selectors as he retains his starting role this weekend ahead of the in-form TJ Perenara.
Anton Lienert-Brown and Malakai Fekitoa pair up in the centres again and Israel Dagg replaces Waisake Naholo on the right wing, the latter is regulated to the bench, while the only other change in the reserves comes in the form of the replacement loosehead prop, with veteran Wyatt Crockett replacing Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
The All Blacks will play with anger and passion to honour the one year anniversary of Jonah Lomu’s passing. Two of the last five tests have been decided in the last minute. It will be a gripping contest, but be very surprised if Ireland win again.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:30am (AEDT).
Playerfromwayback
Guest
Agreed, consistency in officiating of the game is what the rugby community wants!
John
Guest
Had they been playing for the Wallabies, Fekitoa would have had a red and Read would have a yellow. But hey they're the ABs.
Jacko
Guest
The ABs deliberately dont commit many men to the breakdown. You call it being poor at the breakdown but the ABs call it being ready for when the ball is out of the breakdown. Do you think that Ireland couldnt score because NZ lost the breakdown? NO its because their men are defending equally spaced across the park and regard the breakdown as just another way to restart the game, a pause in the defending!
Jacko
Guest
Maybe they had that much terratory and posession because of the Pathetic reffing?
Jacko
Guest
They dropped 11 players
Jacko
Guest
How do you score 2 tries by being clueless in attack. He must of had a clue where to be at least!
Jacko
Guest
Haha on another rugby article putting crap on the sport again eh. Go away if you dont like the sport. Stay and comment if you secretly love the game of rugby but are to scared to say it out loud.
The Saint
Roar Guru
I totally agree Colm. O'Brien played a magnificent game. With ball in hand, he always asked questions of the All Blacks' defence. A wonderful player. If it wasn't for Barrett, he would be my MOTM.
Cathal
Guest
So Ireland dominated possession and Territory yet required the ref to make it a close game...make's no sense.
Cathal
Guest
People say Ireland will get hammered all the time and most of the time they dont...please dont fall into that trap aswell.
Coconut
Guest
Well I give a hoot... That's why I made the comment, and that's why this is called a 'comments section'..
Geoff
Guest
Squire played a great game again. He's a fine back up for Kaino and in years to come he may well become a world class blindside
Sylvester
Guest
Largely clueless on attack though.
Republican
Guest
Boring and predictable result which firmly reaffirms Union as a one nation dominated sport. Chicago was only an exhibition match that the AB's invested very little kudos in.
ray
Guest
im sick of these so called refs controlling the game they need to be accountable for there actions and be reprimanded just like the players!!.
Deez nutz
Guest
Are you an Irish commentator, cause they believed every time Ireland dropped the ball if it had only stayed in hand it was a certain try. They also believed Sam canes head clash should have been a red card
Deez nutz
Guest
It's says something about the ref only reffing one team, watch the game peyper was terrible
Hokonui27
Guest
Onya AB's........well taken tries......and uncompromising defence. I tight games like this, it again shows you can be behind in the game stats......but get to come out on top.....by using the chances that you do get. Onya ......... to the Irish boys......a really good stoush again.....and epic to watch as a spectator.
Wardad
Guest
2 tries and great defence today may explain it.
richard
Guest
Yes,the AB pack seems incapable of dominating teams up front.The pack seems too passive in cleaning out rucks,securing ball and poor at the breakdown.That the backs function as well as they do with the rubbish served by the forwards is a credit to them. I think Hansen had better sort it out quickly,or next year could be an annus horribilis.I mean,take the Lions,for example,look at the forwards they can pick from.Hansen has got a lot of work ahead of him.