Ireland beat New the All Blacks 23-12 in a crazy game in Dunedin, the hosts reduced to 13 at one stage and losing a star player to what seemed a miscalculation that will bring heat on head coach Ian Foster.
The Irish levelled the series at 1-1, taking full advantage after the hosts had lost Angus Ta’avao to a red card in the first half.
Prop Andrew Porter scored two tries and skipper Johnny Sexton added 13 points from the kicking tee as Ireland squared up the three-match series 1-1 ahead of next week’s decider in Wellington.
New Zealand’s discipline cost them dear with two yellow cards in addition to Ta’avao’s red in the first half and they were only able to score tries through flyhalf Beauden Barrett and replacement back Will Jordan.
Six years after their first victory over New Zealand in more than a century of trying, Ireland have now won four of the past seven encounters with the three-times world champions.
The Ta’avao red, for a high hit on Garry Ringrose, ultimately led to Aidan Ross needing to come from the bench to assist the ABs scrum. The coaches withdrew Ardie Savea, but in doing so it meant the powerful No. 8 could take no part in the rest of the game.
It confused, fans, coaches and the players as the All Blacks tried to restart the game with 15 at one stage.
Mack Hansen of Ireland wins possession from a high ball during the Steinlager Series match between New Zealand and Ireland at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Despite 24 percent first half possession, the All Blacks scored in first half stoppage time to go to the break down 10-7. But Ireland, having looked unsettled by their advantage were ruthless after the break.
Former All Black Mils Muliaina said: “The captain was inspirational. They thoroughly deserved their win tonight. The All Blacks will be bitterly disappointed. Hindered by a few cards as well but they weren’t allowed to play their game.
“They’ll l be celebrating back in Ireland with a few Guinness.”
Skipper Sexton said he was delighted and made a point to mention that Ireland were the better team even at 15v15.
“We played some great stuff from the start especially when it was 15 against 15,” said Sexton.
“We’ve got a fantastic coaching team and they had us right up for the game. We didn’t give the best account of ourselves last week and the All Blacks obviously punished us for for our mistakes, but they put us in a really good place this week and all we had to do is go and deliver what they put together for us and we did that.
“If you’re playing the All Blacks you can never sit back – the times you do sit back they’ll punish you. Outstanding players, well coached and the best team for in the world for me.”
All Blacks captain Sam Cane was downcast.
“We showed some massive character to hang on and then score a try before halftime,” said Cane.
“But they’re a quality outfit and bounced back in a big way. We had too many unforced errors and it didn’t let us to get our game going. It will be all on next week.
“I can’t question the attitude, we’re right where we needed to be but some of our skill sets let us down and gave them opportunities to get back into the game and they’re a very good side. They took those, kept the pressure on, kept the scoreboard ticking over and were too good tonight..”
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Back off you bus, & onto your slave singing chariot, Pom!! You obviously know sfa with your utterly ridiculous assumptions. Even with newsprint, as most know, but evidently types as you, don't, only part truths are printed. Ever heard of reading between the lines, Pom? No I imagine not, as the whinging typically continue, from you.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
No-one 'whinges' like a Kiwi rugby supporter. I've just been looking at Stuff NZ - it's hilarious. Please spare me the 'we do all this for the good of the poor old 'Polynesians' guff. You systematically strip out the decent kids who show promise at rugby and give them a 'scholarship.' It's entirely about poaching them for NZ rugby development programmes. The Vunipolas arrived in the UK as very young kids. The hypocrisy of Kiwis is stomach-churning.
winston
Roar Rookie
Brodie, Sam W, Ardie, Scott Barret Akira (watch this space), Blackadder
Phantom
Roar Rookie
And yet no complaints about the number of nz born players in the island teams.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I guess that the 5 year rule will stop that practice now.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hypocrisy??? Do you even know the meaning of the word. Obviously not!! Do you even know, that Aotearoa, is part of Polynesia???? As it stands, there has been approx. 1200 capped AB's, & of those, there are, just 41 that were born in the islands of Polynesia & Melanesia. Of those 41, approx, 95% went through the Aotearoa schooling systems, through arriving through our part of Polynesia as youngsters with their families seeking employment, or such like. So start googling again as there's no way we'll ever surpass whinging Poms as you, knowing that has been your expertise, over the centuries.
Pablo_eire
Roar Rookie
Yeh the ref just applied the rules ... Mostly. When NZ went to uncontested scrums they should have had to take a further player off as punishment - that didn't happen. And throw in the penalty try you mentioned and it's clear the ref actually did them some big favours
Double Agent
Guest
"The rules are clear." It wasn't clear to anybody apparently. It was chaos. Why put on a prop to pack an uncontested scrum? If there's a front row why was it an uncontested scrum? Why would Sexton elect for a scrum if being uncontested completely nullifies Ireland's advantage? And the next minute they're back to contested scrums. And Ardie's gone. What a shambles. :shocked:
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Redsinbleed..both Scottish boyz and REd dragons are currently going through a rough patch as well..they don't have the forwards at the moment to challenge your boyz..the other thing is before Argentina scored their first win over kiwi boyz there were many times where Los pumas were competitive and at one point I think they drew with AB so they were bound to get a victory..this cannot be said for red dragons or Scotsmen after all they don't play them regularly..
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Really!!!hehe
BleedRedandBlack
Roar Rookie
I'm not so sure about the immunity to Wales and Scotland. When you've got a team that is not in control of itself, with wildly fluctuating performances, its all about the momentum created by events. At the moment the AB's are forever reacting to the last game. So for example if they lose to Ireland, Argentina are probably toast, as are Australia in Auckland, but a win against Ireland will make the AB's vulnerable, particularly in Hamilton. If they lost to Wales they almost certainly wouldnt lose to Scotland, but if they beat Wales they're vulnerable, particularly on an end of season. And that's without considering the debilitating impact of losing games against Ireland, SA in SA two times over, and England, all of which are loseable even if the team plays well by Fosters very low standards. So far they have lost four out of six against the best, so with another four to go they are looking at two or three more losses. All in all, the AB's are realistically looking at six losses this year under Foster. Its gonna get rough.
WEST
Roar Guru
We’ll see. It’s open season at the moment
WEST
Roar Guru
Hear the Irish giving Cane sheet.. Who do you think you are? You’re a s**t Richie McCaw pal,” O’Mahony is reported to have told the Chiefs veteran in one altercation :laughing: actually made me laugh. Sad.. but very accurate
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Would disagree on points 8 and 9 though...scottish boyz and red dragons have never beaten kiwi boyz I think..so this will still remain intact...
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Hehe..
WEST
Roar Guru
It’s possible? Who knows what’s going on inside his head? I’m starting to wonder.. Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel. See what happens in Wellington, I’m expecting a very different looking team, so naturally it will struggle to fire. I think if we think about it to much it will do our heads in.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
We MIGHT have a chance if the Boks see the TRC as a training camp and squad development. I don’t see the wallabies or ABs dealing with them well right now.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
"Loss of Whitelock was a massive blow to the team, especially at set piece time." :thumbup:
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
I am hoping Paulo that boklings runout with their second string team against our lads on this side of the ditch in RC...
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Westie I think why fozzie went with 3 sevens in the backrow was that Irish lineouts has not been good for quite sometime..so it felt like a risky selection from him..