DUBLIN - History was made in Dublin today - but it was New Zealand history by the skin of the All Black's teeth. Their 24-22 win came in dramatic circumstances, with Aaron Cruden allowed two attempts to convert Ryan Crotty's try. The second kick was successful - allowing the All Blacks the right to say they have finished the year unbeaten. But they were lucky. They'd been outplayed for much of the match by men in green playing like men who wear black.
Ireland played with precision and accuracy, forcing the All Blacks into errors, made easy ground around the rucks and supported the ball carrier in numbers. When they didn't have the ball the old fox Brian O'Driscoll led the backs up quickly, cutting off the All Blacks path to their outside backs and forcing the ball back inside to a wall of green. The harder the All Blacks tried, the more errors they made - intercepts, turnovers, knock ons, missed touches, players falling over their own feet - they had it all.
Ireland deservedly led 19-0 after 17 minutes with tries to halfback Conor Murray, hooker Rory Best and an intercept to fullback Rob Kearney. The All Blacks hit back with a nifty try to wing Julian Savea from a Cruden cross kick, but a Johnny Sexton penalty gave the home side a 22-7 lead at the break.
The All Blacks thought they'd scored in the 49th minute but video referee Graham Hughes ruled it out. The best they could manage was a penalty a minute or so later. Cruden kicked it and worryingly for Ireland they lost O'Driscoll too, the magnificent centre hurt in a thundering tackle on lock Brodie Retallick.
It was O'Driscoll's 128th test and probably his last against New Zealand. He will have hoped, as he walked off, that his teammates could do what they'd failed to do throughout his career and cope with the strong finish typical of All Blacks sides.
Those hopes would have waned when a try to replacement prop Ben Franks narrowed the score to 22-17 with 16 minutes still to play. Usually that's ample time to secure victory - today, it was just enough.
Sexton's missed penalty in the 73rd minute tested Irish nerves but when Ma'a Nonu knocked the ball on yet again as he tried to launch an attack from inside his own half with three minutes to play - the crowd roared yet again. They dared to believe, and why not? It's 40 years since they drew 10-10 in Dublin and 108 years since the first of their 28 tests against the All Blacks. Surely this was their day. But deep into injury time the All Blacks scored through Crotty - the replacement centre's first test try and he'll do well to score a more important one.
But the drama wasn't over. Cruden missed the conversion but Wales referee Nigel Owens allowed him another shot because Ireland's replacement hooker Sean Cronin had raced out early. He made the second kick, but as the All Blacks celebrated it was a flat ending to a terrific match. Ireland, with some justification, must wonder what it takes to beat the All Blacks.
3 News
source: newshub archive
