Where Will Jordan ranks the Ireland performance and his try scoring streak

The All Blacks 23-13 win over world number one Ireland could be a defining chapter for the Scott Robertson era and for starting fullback Will Jordan.

In a game with the tightest of margins where every mistake is amplified, Jordan was safe as houses under the high ball in misty conditions as the Dublin rain came down in sheets to add some grease to the ball and playing surface.

He ran back kicks with vigour finishing with a team high 16 carries, probed for opportunities around first five Damian McKenzie, and in the end finished the game’s key try on the end of the backline.

It wasn’t the flashiest performance in terms of game-breaking line breaks and stunning tries, but it might be the most important for Jordan in his quest to lock down the No 15 jersey.

“Wet conditions like that naturally tighten the game up, comes with a physical grind, kicking game, high balls, scrambling becomes important. So it did feel like an arm wrestle out there tonight,” he said.

“I think that’s probably the one I’m most pleased about. I look back at the five or six I’ve had now, like, you rock up to the ground and you see it’s wet, you know that it’s going to be not a perfect night at the back.

“It was great to get up on some high balls tonight. Didn’t get everything, but competed as hard as I could individually and as a team. So a pleasing performance in tough conditions.”

On a night prepared for Ireland rugby’s 150th celebrations and revenge for last year’s quarter-final, the two modern rivals were locked in a penalty-for-penalty stoush in the first half.

A try to Josh van der Flier with Jordie Barrett in the bin threatened to lift Ireland as they took the lead 13-12, but the boot of McKenzie continued to knock over goals to provide an 18-13 lead.

After a half-break from Barrett from a spilt high ball, the All Blacks got into their best shape of the night, finding Ireland short out wide multiple times.

McKenzie put Savea away down the right side and Mark Tele’a ended up just shy of the line. Stretching back the other way, slick hands from the forwards put Jordan over untouched.

“I think the one tonight to be fair was one of the easy ones, I’ve scored on the end of the chain, some great hands by Wallace and Asafo in the back line on a greasy night.

“It wasn’t the toughest one I’ve scored but obviously in the context of the game was important. That one was nice sliding over.”

After a turbulent Rugby Championship which included back-to-back defeats to South Africa, both from a winnable position, the All Blacks knocking off Ireland at home represents their biggest scalp of the year.

They stand just shy of reclaiming the number one ranking ahead of their clash with France next week.