All Blacks vs Ireland: UK media reacts to historic Irish win

  • 18/11/2018

The All Blacks were held try-less as Ireland claimed a historic 16-9 victory over New Zealand in Dublin.

The seven-point win was Ireland's second-ever against the All Blacks, but the first on home soil in front of a sold-out Aviva Stadium.

The match was dubbed the biggest of 2018 in a battle between the two best rugby nations in the world.

Last week, UK media said England were unlucky not to have beaten the All Blacks - this week they agree saying Ireland deserved to win.

Here's a selection of perspectives from Irish and UK media after the match.

Gerry Thornley, The Irish Times 

 

"One to tell the grandchildren about, and even better than Chicago, because this inspired Irish victory was carved from a wild match of savage-like intensity in front of a wild crowd who all jumped aboard for the ride.

"From first minute to last, you couldn’t take your eyes off it. And from first to last Ireland went mano a mano and toe to toe with the back to back world champions. There was only one try, and amazingly, Ireland scored it, thereby keeping the All Blacks’ famed running game try-less. So hats off to Andy Farrell and the 23 players who carried out such a monumentally, unflinching accurate defensive effort, pushing up hard, making their tackles, applying pressure on the breakdown – nobody more than Peter O’Mahony, who was immense for his hour on the pitch.

"There was variation too, most of all in one training group move from the Joe Schmidt playbook, dating back to his Leinster days, and masterminded by the team’s driver, Johnny Sexton, and finished brilliantly by Jacob Stockdale.

"It was ultimately the difference but there’s no doubt Ireland deserved the win.

"Ireland’s discipline was exceptional, their five penalties conceded taking their tally to 14 in three games, and in sharp contrast to an All Blacks that lived in yellow card territory and conceded 11.

"Ireland rattled them."

 

"Robert Kitson, The Guardian

 

"Brutal does not even begin to describe the contest but, for Ireland, the outcome was as beautiful as any in their rugby history. For the first time they have beaten the All Blacks on Irish soil and not a single Kiwi can say it was undeserved. If New Zealand are still officially the world's best team, it did not particularly feel that way at the final whistle.

"It made for a legendary Dublin night. New Zealand may have escaped against England at Twickenham but not this time; the world champions were hassled and harried to distraction by a home team as composed and clinical as they were physical and powerful. A solitary 48th-minute try scored by Jacob Stockdale did not entirely reflect Ireland's all-round dominance.

Jacob Stockdale scores Ireland's only try.
Jacob Stockdale scores Ireland's only try. Photo credit: Photosport

"At times it felt like one of those old-school heavyweight bouts: Ali v Foreman, the whole world watching. The body shots were shuddering, the commitment absolute on both sides from first to last. Ireland, smart as well as accurate; New Zealand doggedly staying in the fight right to the end.

"Steve Hansen has spoken in the past about November losses feeling like rocks under his beach towel. This one will be a sizeable boulder, with significant long-term implications. The next time these two sides meet could be in Yokahama on 2 November 2019 with the Webb Ellis Cup at stake. All sorts of other permutations remain possible but should the two sides win their respective pools it could well come down to another Rumble in the Jungle-type epic. If so, Ireland will be utterly unfazed by the possibility after this."

Will Kelleher, Daily Mail

 

"For the night Ireland are the best in the world. This epic victory in front of a baying mob is one of their greatest - and breathes new life into rugby itself.

"Jacob Stockdale, the-22 year-old Ulsterman, crowned the Irish as the kings in the north with a try for the ages.

"His solo score sealed the most stupendous of victories in the most amazing of test matches.

"These All Black gods look mortal - shot down from cloud nine by the mighty green slings and arrows. The back-to-back world champions didn't even score a try.

"The rugby world has shifted on its axis."

Ruaidhri O'Connor, The Irish Independent

 

"All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said that the winner of this game could justifiably claim to the world's best team and, while they remain number two on the rankings, Joe Schmidt's Ireland are top of the world.

"The Six Nations champions made a major World Cup statement with their second win over the All Blacks in two years and for the first time in Dublin thanks to Jacob Stockdale's superb second-half try and a supreme defensive effort that kept the visitors tryless for 80 minutes.

New Zealand-born Ireland international Bundee Aki.
New Zealand-born Ireland international Bundee Aki. Photo credit: Photosport

"At the end of a bruising Test match, the Aviva Stadium rose to salute a supreme effort that saw Peter O'Mahony [twice], Kieran Marmion and Josh van der Flier make sensational defensive plays during the expected final quarter onslaught.

"Like 2013, the men in black threw everything at the final phase of play as they went in search of a draw but they couldn't breach the green wall this time as Brodie Retallick knocked on in injury time.

"There would be no Ryan Crotty moment, rather another piece of history for Irish rugby in what is a golden age.

"That it was achieved without Conor Murray, Seán O'Brien, Dan Leavy and Robbie Henshaw made it all the more impressive. There was none of the violence of the return match two years ago, but it was brutal in its own way.

Charlie Morgan, The Telegraph

 

"Jacob Stockdale's 12th try in 14 tests put Ireland on top of the world in everything but the rankings as Joe Schmidt's men defeated New Zealand 16-9 in Dublin.

"Stockdale's stunningly-crafted score helped Ireland register just their second win over New Zealand, backing up the 40-29 triumph from 2016 in Chicago.

"New Zealand will retain their world number one status despite losing to second-ranked Ireland - but All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen insisted before this clash that the winner would swipe the global bragging rights.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt. Photo credit: Reuters

"By that logic, Ireland have earned the right to call themselves the world's best. After passing this unremitting challenge against the back-to-back world champions, few could argue if they do. This was boss Schmidt's men at their gritty, canny and brutal best.

"All Blacks chief Hansen warned his side not to fall for any of Schmidt's special moves, but that's exactly what happened for Stockdale's winning score."

Simon Lewis, Irish Examiner 

 

"The electricity in the stadium was evident from the start of Amhrán na bhFiann, through the All Blacks' haka and into game itself, the atmosphere doubtless contributing to a frenetic first half which Ireland bossed for long periods.

"It was as good a 40 minutes of controlled, front-foot rugby as Schmidt's team has produced as the Irish pack hit the ground running from the moment the recalled Devin Toner collected Beauden Barrett's deep kick-off.

"There was still time for New Zealand and with 30 second remaining they moved into Irish territory. Again the tackles were desperate but mighty but the world champions were not beaten and they edged into the 22 with regulation time up.

"The Fields of Athenry got an impassioned airing and it was interrupted in the best possible fashion from an Irish point of view as Retallick dropped a short pass. The roar was deafening as players in green and black sank to the floor but victory was Ireland's and the Aviva was in raptures."

Ben James, Wales Online

 

"Joe Schmidt's men came out 16-9 victors at the Aviva Stadium thanks to a try from Jacob Stockdale and the boot of Johnny Sexton.

"The hugely anticipated autumn international pitted the best two teams in the world against one another and it didn't disappoint - with the result a fiercely contested and physical Test match.

"And Ireland deservedly won in nerve-tingling fashion to record their first ever victory over New Zealand on Irish soil.

"Ireland's forwards bullied New Zealand in the first-half, perhaps ruing the sometimes lenient refereeing of Wayne Barnes as the All Blacks conceded nine penalties in the first 40 minutes compared to Ireland's two.

"Ireland's superlative defence made the difference as they held out late on as Steve Hansen's side pushed for a late score to draw them level as Fields of Athenry roared around the Aviva Stadium.

"They become the first northern hemisphere team - baring the 2017 British and Irish Lions - to keep the All Blacks try-less in a test match since France in 1995."

Newshub.