It’s an old truism to say that records exist to be broken. Ireland were yet to win in New Zealand. The All Blacks were yet to lose at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Ireland’s comprehensive 23-12 win last night, changes all of that.
New Zealand stuck true to their World Cup runway plan, making only changes forced upon them by injury, rewarding performance and resisting the temptation to rush Will Jordan back into the starting line-up.
At least, those were the pre-match controllables. Once the match started, all bets were off and players buzzed around in all directions, on and off, too fast as it turned out, for the sideline officials to keep up with.
It was a similar story pre-match for Ireland’s Andy Farrell, swapping only Keith Earls for the dangerous Mack Hansen. Farrell was confident that his players didn’t need to be told what had gone wrong in Auckland and what the fixes were.
That was apparent right from the get-go, Ireland’s blistering start bringing a try for Andrew Porter within three minutes. The relentless recycle, shifts in the point of attack, pace and surety of execution were reminiscent of their wins in 2016 in Chicago, and 2021 in Dublin.
Sam Cane of New Zealand looks on during the International Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland at Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 09, 2022 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Thirteen minutes in and it was 10-0, after a turnover penalty won by the impressive Caelan Doris. Whatever possession the All Blacks were winning, they were making no headway against a very secure defence.
If things weren’t looking bad enough for the All Blacks, they were about to get significantly worse. At 16 minutes, Leicester Fainga’anuku jumped to check a Hansen kick through and succeeded only in making high contact. Not dissimilar to a situation in Super Rugby involving Caleb Clarke, when players leave their feet in that way, they lose control of the outcome, and a yellow card was always going to be the outcome.
The Roar experts break down the win to Ireland and England in a special instant reaction podcast
A second card followed, this time for Ofa Tu’ungafasi tackling Robbie Henshaw on suspicion in the attacking zone. Match officials generously conceded the All Blacks the benefit of the doubt on the penalty try.
Ireland had one shot on attack, 15 v 13, but lost shape under desperate All Blacks defence.
At the half hour, the officials were less generous to the All Blacks. “No mitigation” explained referee Jaco Peyper to All Blacks’ skipper Sam Cane, despite Cane trying to make the point that a centre (Garry Ringrose) stepping back infield into the path of a prop (Angus Ta’avao) without notice, was asking a lot of the prop to rapidly lower his body height to avoid a head clash.
No matter, Ta’avoa suffered the indignity, not unlike that suffered by Welshman Huw Richards in the 1987 World Cup semi-final, of being woken up with the news that he’d been sent off.
It was then that the match bordered on high farce with Quinn Tupaea and Beauden Barrett forced into packing down at a 5m scrum, leaving only five backline defenders. Somehow, Ireland managed to overthink things, and James Lowe spilled the ball.
The Fubar’s didn’t just belong to the players. According to World Rugby guidelines for uncontested scrums, with the situation caused by an act of foul play rather than injury, the All Blacks should have been required to remove a third player.
But the officials were as rattled as the All Blacks; their management inexplicably sending on a prop for an uncontested scrum, which meant that, once the officials restored some semblance of order, Ardie Savea took the rap, his night inadvertently done.
Then again, that’s the sort of night it was. Pressure does funny things to people.
Somehow, the All Blacks remained in touch at 10-0 and, desperate for field position and to apply some pressure, kicked for the corner.
This time it was James Ryan who saw yellow, and to frank the craziest, most confused half of Test rugby seen in New Zealand since 1981’s flour bomb Test, the All Blacks drew to 10-7; Beauden Barrett flukily nutmegging Porter under the posts and pouncing on the rolling ball.
The break came at a good time for Ireland; able to step out of the charged atmosphere and be more clinical about their approach to the second half.
Quickly, they reasserted their authority, in the 48th minute catching Fainga’anuku too far in-field on defence, allowing Ireland to celebrate Ryan’s return to the field with Porter burrowing over for his second try.
Under assault on the field and the scoreboard, the All Blacks handling errors mounted; sometimes under pressure, sometimes not. Far too many to give them any hope of taking the game back.
Also querysome was Beauden Barrett taking the penalty kicks for the sideline instead of brother Jordie. For a side struggling for field position, it was puzzling to see the All Blacks seemingly content with short distance gains when more was potentially on offer.
There was no such problem for Johnny Sexton however; in command of his game, able to enjoy and honour the foundation laid by his hard-working pack. And every time the All Blacks spilled the ball, restored to 8 v 7 in the scrum, Ireland now had a ready source of penalties.
Still the Irish worked overtime; seemingly clean breaks by Jordie Barrett and George Bower snuffed out by superb cover defence. And when new cap Aidan Ross spilled a ball in midfield, and Peter O’Mahoney’s hack ahead turned into a 50:22, there was never any doubt that this was the visitors’ night.
By now out to 23-7, the final stanza saw Ireland dig in with more steely goal-line defence, O’Mahoney keep the trainers busy and Kiwi fans frustrated, and replacement Jordan score a snappy try in the corner which, in the sum of things, didn’t really count for much.
It was definitely a case of too little, too late for the All Blacks. Albeit brave, they had been knocked clean off their stride; firstly by the precision of Ireland’s attack, then through their own ill-discipline.
Tactically superior in Auckland, Ireland read them much better this time around. And whatever plan B options there might have been, they literally collapsed like a house of yellow and red cards.
When under pressure, to respond, the All Blacks often look to simplify things, and turn to Savea to get his legs pumping up the centre of the field. Scratching around for upside, at least Savea will be well rested for next week’s decider.
Clutching for more straws for All Blacks’ fans, Sexton hobbling off with a dicky knee didn’t paint a good picture for the tourists. Then again, he wasn’t supposed to have played this week – that outcome still rankling many Kiwi fans – and it’s not to imagine his panel-beaten, rising 37-year-old body being patched up for one more go-around next week.
Certainly, his judgement wasn’t affected, Sexton taking the time post-match to rightly make the point that regardless of all of the card chaos, Ireland had been on top at the start of the game when it was 15 v 15, and just after half-time when it was 14 v 14.
That’s effectively New Zealand’s problem in a nutshell. With the kind of disruption and numerical disadvantage suffered, against such quality opposition, a 23-12 outcome could easily be written off as being ‘just one of those nights.’ That is, if the problems weren’t evident before the chaos set in.
With a growing chorus clamouring for his head, and his side beaten out of the blocks in successive weeks, coach Ian Foster will need to figure out how to get his side to reassert some much-needed authority and presence.
That will start at the selection table, with Dalton Papalii a non-factor at 6, and the 10-12-13 puzzle evidently still unsolved.
This always felt like a 2-1 series. Ireland has another match against the NZ Maori that, on reflection, they might wish they hadn’t agreed to.
If that is an advantage to New Zealand with respect to preparation, it’s clear that against a side as efficient as Ireland was in this victory, the All Blacks will need every little bit of assistance they can find.
Michael
Guest
Can the new zealand public maybe just accept and acknowledge that ireland are a very good team. New zealand under Hanson were beaten twice by ireland. In the last 7 games it's 4- 3 to ireland if the all blacks win on saturday its 4 - 4 . There is not much between the teams. The reason why all blacks didn't play well in the second test was that they weren't allowed too and irelands attack was on fire. I think the third test will be close and the all blacks will edge it by a score but it could go either way.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
It definitely would have given another thing to make an excuse about, instead of just owning it.
Pablo_eire
Roar Rookie
Agree the rule is nonsense, it's too harsh a penalty. I'm happy another player didn't go off even if it was in the rules, as it would have devalued the win for Ireland.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Correction/amendment to my comment. Officials stuffed up by not sending someone else off. Officials stuffed up by not letting Ardie be used as a replacement. ABs stuffed up by sending Ardie off to begin with and then not knowing the laws well enough to argue the point to get him back. AB officials stuffed up by not arguing to bring Ardie back from the sideline conference they had. Ireland stuffed up by not remembering from their earlier Italy game that ABs should go down an additional man and bring that to Peypers attention. ABs stuffed up by getting too many bloody cards so no one knew what hell was going on!
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Easier to mention the non Leinster guys W. Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne up front, Mack Hansen behind!
WEST
Roar Guru
How many in the Irish team play for Leinster Rugby? Do you think that has a lot to with their composure and ability to always know what to do, knowing and being able to rely on your team mates because you know each other’s game and skill level so well? Also because of the ABs now being made up of a more variety SR teams, that hampers our ability to gel as well? If you think back, the Crusaders were basically the All Blacks, hence their success? I know there’s still a large chunk made up of Crusaders within the ABs.. But they lack that dependability or reliability like the Irish? Looks like these guys have never played together!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Thank you, that was buried a bit and is not clear all from just the Law 3 page. I’d heard that, but I hadn’t been able to find it. I can see why there was so much negativity when Italy had it happen earlier this year, ironically against Ireland also. Seems ABs weren’t screwed, but actually benefited by having more players on the field than they should have. To be fair, that rule is a nonsense though. But should still have been enforced. Just like what was being said after Italy. Interesting that Ireland didn’t go and inform the officials NZ needed to go down to 13…
Pablo_eire
Roar Rookie
Here you go - https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/guidelines/16
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Very fine post. If you don't mind, I'll use it as one of the platforms for debate in the Coach's Corner later this week? :thumbup:
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Insightful article “parkesy”. I can’t help thinking that it’s also the ‘cattle” that they brutally call the players. When you look back at the ABs under Henry/Hansen/Smith with McCaw, Read, Kaino, Aaron Smith, DC, Nonu, Conrad, Ben, BB and so-on and so-on they could always count on some brilliance from one of them. The former winning pattern is clear to me. Slow start, get close by half-time, especially right on half-time and then no contest in 2nd half or if pressed finish off in last 10 mins, 99/100. The experienced guys like BB and Dane Coles are still absolutely fixated on their old winning ways but aren’t aware that the other teams are awake to them now that the champions are gone, the coaching staff is the B Team and the NZRU management is being exposed. The $64K question for me is why Fossies contract was extended to the RWC when the jury was still out.
Derm
Roar Guru
We need to get our act together for the final match or we’re going to lose the series regardless of result in second Māori match. The back three still looks unbalanced and both wingers caught out of position and floundering on a few occasions. Notwithstanding the red card, we’re still going to be missing key midfield player for the test. After such a result, can the coaching team get the players up again sufficiently to win a second test? Still, they could be in New Zealand’s shoes…
WEST
Roar Guru
It’s not just a selection issue. I wish it was that simple, unfortunately it’s much deeper than that. Hate to use the Cliché but.. It starts at the top and filters down, there’s so many missing elements within the All Blacks culture at the moment. Why can an Irish team travel to NZ at the end of their long season and perform high quality rugby. Yet we use excuses about our long season as part of the reasons we stumble at the EOYT.. But we can’t perform at the start either?? Something isn’t adding up. Enough of the excuses. If you ask me a lot has to do with discipline & attitude. NH players are far more disciplined in their approach to a game, in their self belief, the sacrifices they’re prepared to make.. Either through self improvement or team work. That has a lot to do with the leadership, men willing to do whatever’s necessary to get the results. That’s credit to the coach installing the belief and arming the team with the best skills and tactics to get the job done.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Reducing bench size. I don’t know why the need for that personally
Paulo
Roar Rookie
That’s what happened Italy earlier this year. But I can’t see that in the laws. That’s not what 3.20 says. Can you find the law that says that? The refs were getting confused with 3.17 which says a card player can’t be replaced. They said Ardie was in effect the carded player due to leaving the field to allow a front rower on. That was their point. They were wrong. 3.20 clearly says that, as he’s the nominated player, he can be used as a replacement. I can’t find a law anyway that says you lose ANOTHER player because of an uncontested scrum. https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/law/3
Pablo_eire
Roar Rookie
Yeh but because foul play caused the uncontested scrums NZ should have been down to 12 until the sin bin was over then 13 for the rest of the match
Greco Dominicus
Roar Rookie
I have one problem with this post Sinclair. All the things you mentions like support and Robertsons lack of experience, or maturity (Caus we all know conservative people perceive boring people like Foster as more mature than Mavericks like Robertson :shocked: , I mean hell would freeze over if the All Black coach did a break dance after winnig the World Cup.) Those elements are only relevant when choosing between two candidates of more or less equal standing. They don't matter when the one coach is much better then the other. Scott Robertson is a 6 time SR champion. Everyone pretends like the Crusaders were always good, but they forget that things went to pot after Deans left and they were perenial semi finalists till Robertson arrived. The Chiefs on the other hand got better when Foster was replaced by Rennie - if you were comparing Rennie to Robertson and mentioning all these side issues it would be different. The decent into mediocrity for the All Blacks was always going to be gradual they will win a game the lose a game then it will happen more and more. There are to many good players for them to be bad all the time. In modern society where everyone is under the microscope, it does not pay to try and keep what you have, you have to consistently innovate, safe choices cause stagnation and you very soon become what Nokia became to Blackberry and they subsequently became to Apple. Foster and Plumtree are mediocre coaches, they will always be mediocre, and that's fine, not everyone can be a great coach just like not everyone can be a great journalist or artist, saying it doesn't mean your playing the man
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
In 57 mins BB passed 11 times, ran 4, meters 6 tackles 6 In 23 mins RM passed 7 times, ran 3, meters 27, tackles 4 In 74 mins Sexton passed 27 times, ran 2, meters 30, tackles 8 ABs had 53% possession, Ireland 47% From these stats BB didn't do so well at 10 on the day
Fox
Roar Guru
That and the fact that – yes fair enough we have had injuries and COVID to deal with – but I still think some of the selctions are a bit perplexing. Havilli fu;;y trained – why was not at least on the bench? And he took too long to bring Jordan on? He had a golden opportnity to try Jordie at 12 and Jordan to 15 but didn’t take it when seriously Nick, what did he have to lose as we need a kicking 12. Anyway I guess we are all arnchair experts and wannbe selectors without all the full informantion but the break dancing kid beckons Nick if we lose in Wellington make no mistake. Foster now has the worst win % of any AB coach in the professional era or at anytime = 70%. Is he totally to blame – of course not – that would be unfair with all the COVID and travel disruptions all teams have had to face in the last two years but is he partly to blame? – well I think the answer is yes Nick. the buck stops with him.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
That is a great place to start in order to get better W. I'm not at all sure Ireland are better than the ABs in this series, but at a certain point you have to stop assuming you're 'superior-if-only-you-pick-the-right-blokes'. Things never improve that way. :thumbup:
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
ABs were trying to get Ardie back on the field, and make up a full complement of 15 players - that's what all the fuss was about... Too many players on the pitch. :happy: