The All Blacks have started 2022 with a bang, inflicting a 42-19 win over Ireland in an entertaining first test at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.
The teams combined for nine tries in a high octane contest, where the All Blacks' - overcoming the disruption caused by the Covid-enforced loss of coaches and key players - were able to find another gear, after enduring an early onslaught by a fearless Irish side.
The difference proved to be an eight-minute stretch from the 30-minute mark, when the hosts ran in three tries to take a demoralising 28-5 lead into halftime, leaving a mountain far too steep for the tourists to climb at the All Blacks' Auckland fortress.
While they battled until the very end, Ireland - who enjoyed plenty of great field position - were denied on multiple occasions by a relentless All Blacks defence, and couldn't match their counterparts at scrumtime.
They also had to contend with the loss of skipper Johnny Sexton, who left with a head injury midway through the first half. A failed HIA prevented him returning to the field.
No. 8 Ardie Savea was a shining beacon for the All Blacks, scoring a brace of tries - one of which involved a devastating 30m individual effort - while halves Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith were also on song.
Rieko Ioane was excellent in the midfield - particularly defensively - and prop George Bower was the cornerstone of the All Blacks' dominant scrum.
The debutant duo of Leicester Fainga'anuku and Pita Gus Sowakula both acquitted themselves well, the latter celebrating in style with a vintage No. 8's try.
Ireland opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a sustained assault on the NZ line, working patiently through 18 phases, before Keith Earls was afforded some space on the right edge to crash over in the tackle.
The All Blacks struck back 15 minutes later, when Fainga'anuku came within inches of scoring on debut, leaving Smith to pick out Jordie Barrett to crash over from close range.
Ireland were quickly back on the offensive but the All Blacks' defence ramped up a notch, forcing an untidy pass which bobbled up for Sevu Reece to pounce upon and scorch 80m clear to go in under the crossbar.
Seizing the momentum, the All Blacks were over again just five minutes later. Beauden Barrett placed a pinpoint grubber behind the rushing Irish defence from 22m out, with Quinn Tupaea timing his chase perfectly, then patiently waiting for the ball to bounce up for him to dive in next to the uprights.
They weren't done there. With minutes left in the half, Smith burst clear from a ruck, chipped the final defender, then dived to tap the ball back, the awkward bounce evading a trio of cover defenders to sit for Savea to leap upon.
That try-scoring blitz saw the All Blacks jog to the sheds with a handsome and rather daunting 28-5 advantage.
Ireland had to be the first to score in the second half and they were, with more patient attacking play ending James Lowe offloading in the tackle for Garry Ringrose to go over in the corner.
But yet again, the All Blacks had a response. Savea brushed off defenders on a wide running arc from 30m out to score a superb individual try and push the lead out to 35-12.
The Irish were able to mount another long period in the NZ 22m, only to be denied two tries by sensational last-gasp defensive efforts by Ioane.
Sowakula celebrated his debut with a try off the back of a 5m scrum to push the All Blacks' score beyond 40 points.
The tourist finished with a flurry, with Bundee Aki barreling his way to the chalk with a minutes left in the contest.
In fitting fashion, the All Blacks - with time expired - closed out the encounter with another staunch tryline stand.
The sides will meet again at Dunedin next Saturday.
All Blacks 42 (Jordie Barrett 22', Sevu Reece 30', Quinn Tupaea 36', Ardie Savea 38' 53', Pita Gus Sowakula 71' tries; Jordie Barrett 6 con) Ireland 19 (Keith Earls 6', Garry Ringrose 44', Bundee Aki 77' tries; Joey Carbery 2 con). HT: 28-5
