Ireland 13-23 New Zealand: Andy Farrell's side suffer rare home defeat in rusty performance
It was a New Zealand domination on Friday night against a poor Ireland team.
Ireland 13-23 New Zealand
More Normal People than Gladiator from ring rusty Ireland as their proud home record was put to the sword by the All Blacks.
The night after the Irish premiere of Gladiator II, Paul Mescal was clearly enjoying himself at the Aviva Stadium as things promised to get tasty after a first-half exchange between big Joe McCarthy and All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett.
Yet this was far from the explosive encounter supporters had hoped for in the first meeting of the two rivals since the All Blacks' World Cup quarter-final victory 13 months ago.
Instead, Andy Farrell's side blew their chance to make it 20 victories on the spin on Lansdowne Road - a record stretching back to a behind closed doors Six Nations defeat to France in 2021 - and to make it three in a row against New Zealand.
Instead, the record now reads five wins apiece since the men in green's breakthrough success in Chicago in 2016.
And Farrell knows his side only have themselves to blame after making a series of unforced errors, something you just can't do against a side of this calibre - especially after regaining the lead through Josh van der Flier's early second half try.
The All Blacks had played a series of Test games since Ireland were last in action in July - and it showed as the hosts made a series of uncharacteristic errors that killed their momentum at vital moments.
Jordie Barrett's yellow card just before the break and van der Flier's five-pointer threatened to turn the contest Ireland's way.
But the All Blacks hit back through a combination of Damian McKenzie penalties and Will Jordan's 69th minute try.
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The hosts took the lead through Crowley's seventh minute penalty, with Barrett pinged for obstructing Mack Hansen under the high ball.
But McKenzie levelled it up soon after his half-back partner Cortez Ratima made a 20-metre break and Finlay Bealham was harshly penalised at the breakdown.
The physicality went up a level as the All Blacks enjoyed more possession but they were met by some serious hits - from Garry Ringrose in particular, who produced two massive tackles, the second taking down Ioane, much to the delight of the home crowd after his rift with Johnny Sexton.
There was an opening for New Zealand - a blink and you'll miss it overlap on the right wing - but James Lowe denied Mark Tele'a.
Then Jamison Gibson-Park scrambled back superbly to cut McKenzie down in full flight, but the home side found themselves defending desperately and a no-arms tackle allowed the out-half to kick his side in front in the 29th minute.
Ireland responded and Crowley kicked a penalty into the All Blacks' 22, but Bundee Aki lost the ball forward in a maul and the chance was gone.
Tadhg Beirne failed to release in the tackle on halfway and it was the All Blacks who had an attacking platform - ref Nic Berry pinged Ryan for not releasing and McKenzie made it 9-3.
The referee also warned Ireland skipper Doris that his side were in danger of a yellow card for consistent fouling, but there was a change of fortune just 30 seconds before the interval.
Ireland won the restart and Ringrose was tackled high by his soon to be Leinster team-mate Barrett, resulting in Crowley reducing the deficit to three - and Barrett being sent to the sin-bin.
Ireland got off to the perfect start to the second half when the All Blacks were pinged for crossing.
Crowley kicked for the corner, his forwards lost the lineout but Sam Cane was driven back over his own try line - and the hosts had a five-yard scrum.
Doris led the charge off the back of the set-piece and Gibson-Park fed van der Flier, who touched down on the try line for the five-pointer. Crowley added the extras for a 13-9 lead after 43 minutes.
Ireland piled back into the attack straight away - Lowe's big kick put them back upfield, Will Jordan was smashed by Gibson-Park and lost possession.
But Lowe's high tackle earned the All Blacks a reprieve - and McKenzie made it a one-point game with a penalty from just inside Ireland's half, keeping his composure to split the posts after the ball initially fell off the tee.
Barrett returned after it was ruled his tackle didn't merit a red and, after a poor Crowley knock-on halted Ireland's promising attacking momentum, McKenzie struck the upright with a long range penalty.
But the out-half was handed a better opportunity on the hour mark. Bealham had just been called ashore after a hard shift when he was forced to return after his replacement Tom O'Toole shifted a heavy head knock.
It was Bealham who was pinged in scrum seconds later, with McKenzie slotting over to regain the lead for his side - then Iain Henderson's high challenge on the Chiefs star five saw him make it 18-13.
It got worse for Ireland when Ciaran Frawley knocked on and the visitors sensed an opportunity.
Jordie Barrett made ground, Tele'a was stopped by Mack Hansen, but the All Blacks quickly recycled and Jordan strolled in for his 37th try in 39 Tests.
McKenzie missed the conversion but it was done with 20 minutes to go.
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