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All Blacks extend Eden Park unbeaten streak with clinical win over Ireland
at Eden Park, Auckland
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The All Blacks have extended their unbeaten streak at Eden Park to 53 Tests with a 40-21 win over Ireland in the Nations Championship. It’s been 11,703 days since New Zealand last tasted defeat at the venue, but that record will stand for at least another three months.
Ireland and New Zealand fans made their way to The Garden for one of the most anticipated Tests of the Nations Championship so far. Both sides had spoken this week about their confidence and self-belief, but it was time for rugby to do the talking.
Sam Prendergast got the match underway, with the Auckland crowd letting out a deafening cheer as the Irish fly-half put boot to ball. Former Leinster teammate Jordie Barrett was the one tasked with reeling in the kick-off, ahead of a fiery start to the fixture.
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Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea stepped up in defence, holding Ireland’s Garry Ringrose up and forcing a turnover inside the first five minutes. The All Blacks looked the more threatening of the two teams in attack as well, with Damian McKenzie making an early break.
Ruben Love kept the attacking phase play alive in the sixth minute with a fingertips catch before sending the ball out wide. McKenzie ended up racing downfield and into the red zone but Ireland’s defence saw the scores remain at nil-all.
The All Blacks continued to control both the possession and territory battles early on, but the search for the opening points continued. McKenzie threw an attempted cut-out pass into the head of teammate Josh Lord, summing up an error-riddled period.
Ireland entered the All Blacks’ 22 soon after, but Jamison Gibson-Park was pinned for offside. The All Blacks kicked their way up towards halfway with the penalty, and this time, their efforts with the ball would lead to points.
Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu crashed over for the opening points 14 minutes in, with fellow lock Lord providing the try-assist with a clever short ball. Love added the extras, yet you could still feel the palpable tension and nerves around the stadium.
The Irish gave away four consecutive penalties, which allowed the All Blacks to play with almost 70 per cent possession during the first quarter. Another infringement saw the hosts set up for an attacking scrum five metres out, and it was their skipper who stepped up.
Ardie Savea became the all-time All Blacks leader for Test tries at Eden Park, peeling off the scrum and beating Tadhg Beirne on the blindside. Savea powered through a couple of tackle attempts, allowing Love to line up another conversion attempt.
It looked like the New Zealanders were destined to score again soon after, building up phases with the Irish try line within reach in the 27th minute. But the match took a turn when openside flanker Luke Jacobson was sent to the sin bin for a high cleanout on Josh van der Flier.
Ireland ended up scoring their first points of the night five minutes later, with backrower Jack Conan charging onto a short ball. Conan crashed through tackle attempts from Asafo Aumua and Ethan de Groot, which gave Irish fans hope.
But then, almost immediately, the All Blacks were gifted a try. Stuart McCloskey attempted to shift the ball but that attempt hit the deck, with Will Jordan running onto the ball and all the way to the house – becoming the first New Zealander to surpass the 50-Test try marker.
The All Blacks kept the pressure on as they chased more points before the half. Love slotted a pinpoint 50/22 with two minutes left in the half, leading to an Aumua try in the dying stages of the first term. It was a 21-point ballgame at the break.
Ireland got off to a dream start in the second half, with towering lock Joe McCarthy touching down for a crucial score. Irish fans let out a cheer, and you could see it on the faces of the players out in the middle: this match was far from over.
New Zealand were briefly made to play the ball out from inside their own 22, but soon regained control of the match’s momentum. Barrett dribbled the ball ahead with an inch-perfect kick, which saw Irish No. 15 Hugo Keenan step into touch.
The All Blacks were relentless in their pursuit of more points; building phase after phase as they edged closer to the try line. Another penalty against Ireland saw the hosts set up for an attacking lineout five metres out.
That proved to be another crucial moment. Lord rose highest before bringing the ball back down, and Love was denied just short of the chalk soon after. But then, in the very next phase, McKenzie burrowed over for the team’s fifth try.
Love converted the try, extending New Zealand’s lead to 21 points with just over 20 minutes left. The first five-eighth was replaced by Caleb Clarke, prompting a backline reshuffle involving try-scorers Jordan and McKenzie.
Three converted tries separated the teams, but Ireland remained determined to make history at the All Blacks’ fortress. Prendergast set up Keenan with a sublime cut-out pass before nailing the difficult shot at the poles from out wide.
With less than 18 minutes to play, the difference was only 14 points.
As the clock continued to tick closer to the 80-minute mark, the All Blacks seemed to almost grow in confidence. McKenzie was heavily involved as the team threw the ball around from left to right, and then back again.
The All Blacks had the final try-scoring say through Anton Lienert-Brown, who was set up by a Jordan offload with less than two minutes remaining. It was the team’s sixth try, capping off a clinical performance from the All Blacks.
And their fortress remains intact.
New Zealand are off to South Africa next for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour, which includes a fourth Test in Baltimore, the USA. The All Blacks will return to Eden Park in less than three months for a Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies on October 10.
Watch Hemispheres collide as North faces South in the brand new Nations Championship. Live matches, replays and highlights free on RugbyPass TV here
