All Blacks: Deny Irish at the death
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Ireland turned up the heat in freezing conditions to push New Zealand all the way, before eventually succumbing to a 22-19 defeat in Christchurch on Saturday.
With the scores level at 19-19 and one minute remaining in the match, All Blacks pivot Dan Carter broke Irish hearts with a last-gasp drop goal to win the game and the series.
It was a valiant effort from the visitors, who led the world champions by one point (9-10) at half-time, but were left playing catch-up following an early try to Aaron Smith two minutes after the break.
But the men in green managed to claw their way back and when All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg was yellow-carded in the 72nd minute, Ireland were presented with a golden opportunity to retake the lead from 49m out.
However, Jonathan Sexton's attempt had the direction but not the distance as the ball fell agonisingly short. From there the hosts put themselves into a position to set up Carter for the match-winning drop.
His first attempt off his right boot, however, clipped an Irish hand and sailed wide. But Carter wouldn't miss the second attempt, and this time - off his left foot - sent the ball between the sticks.
Jubilation for the All Blacks, heartbreak for the brave Irish.
Declan Kidney's troops had promised they would up the intensity after being run off the park a week ago and they were certainly true to their word as the visitors - roared on by dozens of Irish fans - threatened to snaffle their first-ever Test win over the All Blacks in their 26th attempt.
Ireland supporters would have been choking on their Guinness after looking at the scoreboard to see the visitors 10-0 ahead in the opening quarter of the match thanks to an early try from Conor Murray and the boot of Sexton.
Ireland made the most of an early line-out close to New Zealand's line with brilliant effect, mauling the ball superbly before Murray - despite having no blindside support - made a dart to get the ball over for the try. Sexton added the conversion and nine minutes later he added his first penalty.
The All Blacks were able to put their first points on the board through a Carter penalty in the 21st minute. As in the first Test, Ireland went off the boil when the game headed into the second quarter and as New Zealand's intensity grew, the home side forced errors at the breakdown. This allowed Carter to add two more three-pointers that closed the gap even further.
The number ten had a chance to put his team in front on the stroke of half-time, but his fourth penalty attempt didn't have the legs and allowed Ireland to head into the half-time sheds 10-9 ahead.
That lead lasted just two minutes after the resumption before Smith grabbed his first Test try after a burst from Sonny Bill Williams. Williams crashed into the Ireland pack and as the All Blacks piled in, their livewire scrum-half was driven over the line for the try that Carter duly converted.
Any thoughts that the floodgates might open as they did in Auckland seven days ago, were dispelled as Ireland rallied with Sexton adding his second penalty in another strong attacking period that had the All Blacks scrambling to make try-saving tackles.
But with that storm weathered, the momentum again swung the other way and Carter's fourth penalty extended New Zealand's lead to 19-13.
Ireland then came back with two more Sexton penalties levelling the scores to set up a dramatic finale.
Pressure mounted on New Zealand as Adam Thomson joined Kieran Read on the injured list, leaving them only two specialist loose forwards. Dagg's sin-binning for a late charge on Rob Kearney didn't help matters either for the hosts.
But at 19-all and a man down, the All Blacks rallied one last time and fittingly, Carter - a Canterbury local - was there to hold his nerve and seal the outcome.
Man of the match: For New Zealand, Dan Carter was obviously the man of the moment thanks to his match-winning drop-goal. But it's hard to look past the gallant Irish who silenced their critics with a superb effort that came within fractions of the most famous Irish win in history against the world champions. And it's for that reason why we've opted for a collective award to the entire Ireland team.
Moment of the match: With 40 seconds of the match remaining, it has to be Carter's winning drop goal.
Villain of the match: Israel Dagg's brain implosion that so nearly cost his team defeat.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Try: A Smith
Con: Carter
Pens: Carter 4
Drop: Carter
For Ireland:
Try: Murray
Con: Sexton
Pens: Sexton 4
Yellow card: Dagg, 72 mins (New Zealand, foul play)
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Zac Guildford, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Ben Smith.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip. 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Donncha O'Callaghan, 19 Peter O'Mahony, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Simon Zebo.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
By Dave Morris
Comments
passtheball says...
All the goal kickers say that the silence, as in the UK, is more intimidating than booing / whistling or chainsaws and it really gives you an extra incentive to stick it up them.
Posted 10:18 17th June 2012
Norm says...
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3558_7782056,00.html
Re Sextonsonfire aka Iamapratt
Posted 09:50 17th June 2012
Norm says...
Hi Blametheref
yes lost a few pounds, quite a bit of hair and truly would love to have won that bet! The money would have been sweet but nowhere near as much as the victory!
Great to see Heaslip back on form, got to give it to you on Darcy he was great. Rory Best, what a player and what an undervalued player on the global stage. If Strauss declares then he has a job to displace Best! World class.
favourite moment of the match, reset scrum after demolishing the AB front row, Ryan shouts 'STRONGER STRONGER STRONGER!' That is what we have been missing.
If Kidney could summon that out of the players every time we would be on top of the world, but as someone posted last week we seem at the minute to have only one of those games in us a season, England, Australia, NZ.
To all reading these boards please dont judge irish fans on the wittering nonsense coming out of Sextons on fire and his ilk. The only time he has posted something recently that wasnt focused on baiting Munster fans and actually discussed rugby was when he posted that Stephen Ferris should be dropped because he plays the game with too much intensity, please see this prat for what he is, a pubescent prat who in rugby terms doesnt know his arse from his elbow!
Well done Ireland! Bring on next week!
Posted 09:48 17th June 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Stag, a "notch above neanderthals".. haha, well makes a difference from being racially abused when we were in Dublin a few years ago for the game at Croke.. not surprising considering your attacks on our race,.. oh so polite Europeans yeah right. You come across as a bit of a sore loser, find anyway you can to have a dig at us Kiwis, well done... though a little sad. I suspect you've most likely never even laced up a boot and played the game, otherwise you'd likely know and have played with Kiwis and would probably not be so bitter about us, win or lose we're always good for a few beers and a laugh after the game. In NZ rugby is a game for people of all colours and class, not solely for the middle class and polite.. so all sorts turn up to the matches and who are you to tell someone who pays their hard earned money enjoying their evening out that they cannot yell, boo or sit there how they like. Get out and see the world and live a little, otherwise take your own advice and stay indoors and take in the game on the box.. and if you don't like NZ and their supporters don't watch us.
Posted 09:17 17th June 2012
anotherfarce says...
The Irish pack hammered away at the Ab forwards & it was quite plain to see the wheels were falling off. It was a great game & I hope they use the same tactics next week!!
Can't wait for the Boks v NZ in the 4N, drooling at the prospect!!
Posted 08:56 17th June 2012
Stag says...
Kinsman, take a look at the intelligent post from Kpe12. He has a good handle on why AB supporters are a notch above neanderthals. Regarding your own situation, if you can't handle the staunchly middle class and polite European rugby crowd, you should probably stay indoors and take in the game on the box.
Posted 07:51 17th June 2012
jonesy2 says...
gotta say there are a fair few irish fans on here comanding respect with their graciousness. good to see. if ireland can back up that performance in hamilton and wales do the same in sydney then i think they will have both turned a corner
Posted 07:50 17th June 2012
jonesy2 says...
hmmmmm well all i can say is well done ireland for being at level score with the allblacks until the last minute mainly thanks admirable intent to take the ABs on, nigel owens (izzys yellow card is one of the most retarded calls a ref can make) and NZ playing really really really poorly for their standard. well done ireland, pathetic new zealand
Posted 07:38 17th June 2012
Ramage says...
Isn't this what we love about rugby. Every team has that chance to win on the day if they play well and take the attack to the other side. Congratulations you took the attack to NZ and in many ways succeeded. Unfortunately the end result was not luck but as some others say the result of the wise heads of NZ team getting together and putting in place the necessary play to take the win. Well done Ireland you had your chance unfortunately the other team squeezed you out. It makes an interesting third game and should Ireland win that one I'm sure the "if" word will pop up a lot. Although all SH teams except Fiji won there was a much improved showing from the NH team s and more of a contact. Next week it will be interesting to see which teams have the ability to make a comeback and totally unacceptable and made him look like a buffoon. He should be dropped.
I see the usual trolls pop their heads up and make the usual outrageous statements but as a non Irishman it seems a bit funny to me that the trolling on the whole is not aimed at NZ but directed at either Leinster or Munster supporters depending on what province the writer is from. Is this an Irish trait where instead of goading the other country's supporters you goad each other. You have to love the Irish, as long as they aren't nuns.
Posted 07:16 17th June 2012
2EyedKiwi says...
Excellent game, and was partly hoping that the Irish has won this (is this treason?!).
Reason being having listened all day to so-called experts on Radio Sport who had completely written the Irish off.
They were calling it "reality", whereas it simply smacked of arrogance.
To get up after last weeks smacking took courage and passion. Well played Ireland!
Still, it takes class to win these sorts of matches, and although horrible by most standards (including their own), the AB's did enough to win which should be commended.
I felt for Savea. Last weeks hero reminded us of his age, and SBW had a game that he's probably like to forget.
I do envy the Irish fans during this series, because of the commentary. You don't have to listen to Marshall (while occasionally insightful, is horribly opinionated - which is fine, if you are going to be correct...), and I don't know whats happened to Smithy. He's starting to sound a bit like Phil Kearns. Someone please send the real Ian Smith back!
Looking forward to game 3!
BTW - my 2cents on Dagg. Penalty? Absolutely. Yellow card? Bollocks.
Posted 05:43 17th June 2012
abfixit says...
Great well done to both teams for bringing really enthralling match to us. Ireland, never to be underestimated by anyone nearly got the prize so wanted. ABs need to do more thinking rather than assuming the game is over. DC, well what can I say - pure class, and still the same guy from Southbridge.
Posted 05:22 17th June 2012
tha_mai says...
NZ news: "One of the arrested people included a naked woman who ran onto the field during half-time." Brave woman in that weather.
Police arrested five, evicted 16 and barred 28 from entry due to heavy intoxication.
Senior Sergeant Banfield: 'Most of the troublemakers were Irish supporters who "demonstrated they can't handle alcohol".'
This surprises me - and what an insult to the Irish drinking population.
Posted 04:44 17th June 2012
passtheball says...
With notable retirements, injuries and some of the older AB forwards looking jaded the Irish will be looking forward to the test in Hamilton. Squad members, Tamefuma, Cane and Rettalick are just 20 and cant be expected to dominate so the folly of not using Liam Messam, amongst other more experienced players, was exposed. While Ireland played very well SA, Aus and even Arg will see nothing to fear on that performance.
I will be surprised if Hansen makes it to the next W Cup! We shall see.
Posted 04:09 17th June 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ all the genuine Irish fans - I'm not gonna say you were robbed 'cos you weren't but on another day Ireland may well have won... and on another day again been beaten by 10 points. Such is rugby!
Posted 03:09 17th June 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ Rosbif... welcome back, so much more interesting to read what someone who actually loves the game thinks as opposed to those who can only love it when their team wins.
I can't quantify it but my eyes & my gut are telling me that McCaw isn't the player he was as recently as 2010 & that he has been less effective v Ireland than has Pocock v wales. There are 3 possible explainations, the 1st is pure troll food so I'll only address the remaining 2:
2. After a long layoff McCaw is slowly getting back to his best & come August/ September the Brisbane master baiter & the various Bok-something & something- Bok trolls will be secretly wishing he was THEIR McCheat...
3. After 100+ Tests, 100+ S12/14/15 & 50+ AirNZ/ ITM Cup matches it's time to hand the captaincy over to Read & the 7 shirt to the next "cheat": this gives rise to 3 further options:
a. Retirement. If anyone's earned the right to call time where & when he chooses, it's McCaw. In saying that, the temptation to stick around just a while longer can be very powerful so maybe he could use some help recognising that the time has come (not saying that it has).
b. Try the switch to 6. Not easy but the Iceman managed it nicely after his 2nd knee recon & if anyone can emulate him then it's McCaw. I've been posting on this since McCaw's off-the-bench S15 comeback & would have liked to see it tried v Ireland & can still be done imo.
c. A switch to 19. Who better to come on with say 20 to go & our open- or blind- side flanker has run himself into the ground? Or earlier if someone gets injured? With all that experience he'd also be a good senior pro-type figure for the new skipper to utilise & I'm sure he could still show whoever takes over at 7 a trick or 2 on the training paddock!
... to be continued
Posted 03:04 17th June 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
curates_egg, errr gouging?
blametheref, the match was in Christchurch, not Wellington as you've been writing here all week.. not really surprising you consider the scrum penalty near the end was incorrect when you cannot even get the location correct. The reason why Ireland were going forward is because they were scrumming illegally. Pretty simple.
Stag, so one NZer says we have poor fans and you consider that to be true of everyone.. sums you up pretty well.
Tomin HK, practice what you preach.. almost every NZer on this site has praised Ireland and thought it was a great game, we dont need you chipping in with your arrogant comments, if you dont like NZ and the Haka then change the channel.
And figures released in Ireland a couple weeks ago say rugby is the top sport for playing numbers, not that it matters when the Irish play like they do.
Its hard to take some posters seriously, irrespective of the result that was the best test match I have seen in years.
Posted 02:24 17th June 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
pantreac, that "violent" assault you mention was actually a knee from one of his fellow Irishmen.
Posted 01:14 17th June 2012
AWEBLAX says...
@pantreac not only was it BODs team mate that kneed him in the head but did you not see the state of Richies face after the game, wow, let me guess he did that to himself, even Dan had marks on his face for the first time ever, now let's stop whinning because as you said, your not complaining and appreciate the great game for what it was, well done to both teams for a hard fought and torrid test match and why the hell are some of you calling the Irish chokers, no way in hell they were brilliant and that chokers term seems to be the choice of over confident idiots!!!
Posted 01:08 17th June 2012
Melkiwi says...
Wow what a great game. This just proves that past results count for nothing and any team can step up when needed. Hats off to ireland.
Congrats to all of the rugby championship teams for their wins, sa, Oz and arg.
@Pantreac what are you on about son? Did you not see the reply? It was your own man who kneed bod in the eye.
Posted 00:28 17th June 2012
NeBear says...
Never thought Ireland would come as close as they did last night to beating the AB's for the first time in history - The men in green had already come off a 30 point bollocking the week before, their heads were down, history was against them, the NZ newspapers were talking up how the ABs needed to lift the intensity for this game suggesting an even bigger winning margin - but as Brian O'Driscoll said in the post match interview, all the Irish players had talked about how the thought they'd "let the jersey down" the week before and were on a mission to redeem themselves - personally, If I were an Irish supporter, although gutted at the final result, I would have been proud of the way they played.
While it wasn't the prettiest game to watch, it will go down in history as a classic test match for a number of reasons; there was drama - lots of it. One couldn't help noticing the strain on referee's face knowing full well that Ireland were merely minutes away from one of the greatest upsets in rugby history.
Ritchie Mcaw needs a rest - and I'm not just talking about a week off - I'm talking about a good 12 month break. And yes, I realise he's just had the last 12 weeks off Super 15, but it was evident last night that that he is physically tired which was demonstrated by his uncharacteristic error rate. Sam Cane, on the other hand, had an outstanding game coming off the bench, in fact, if Cane continues to put in performances like that week in and week out, he could be the next Ritchie.
Piri Weepu - once again Piri proved to all the haters out there why he deserves to be in the black jersey - in crucial situations he steps up and takes leadership. Aaron Smith played well but I thought the subbing of Smith for Weepu in the last 15 mins was a smart tactic by Hansen.
Posted 00:25 17th June 2012