On this huge Saturday of rugby, the Australia vs England decider is next up and you can join Jonathan Howcroft for all the action here...
Peter O’Mahony has wiped his eyes and is having a chat
“It’s hard to put into words really. This has never been done before, it’s something I never thought was possible as a young fella, but now the young fellas back home will know this can be done. We always believe we can win as we know the work we put in and have the incredible backing of our families, friends and coaches. It means a huge amount for them as well.”
Match report here
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Andy Farrell is talking to Sky.
“They will talk about this for a long time, this is a special group and this is the toughest thing to do in world rugby. We said it was going to be the start of our World Cup year, but it feels bigger than that. Even after the first game, when we were held up over the tryline five times, we’ve believed we can beat anyone. We don’t get carried away with ourselves whether it’s going well for us or going against us.”
The Ireland team are gathered around their captain as the series trophy is presented. Sexton hoists it high with shouts and smiles aplenty as they let all this sink in.
A significantly less glum Johnny Sexton
“There are fans here and we have four million people at home, up for breakfast watching and we always talk of doing hem proud and we did. To do it against the best in the world is special. The main man [Andy Farrell] has done an amazing job, all credit to him. This means a lot now, but in a year’s time when the World Cup starts it won’t mean a thing, but we’ve gotta keep improving”
A glum Sam Cane is here.
“We’re extremely disappointed. We didn’t put on the performance we wanted to, we felt the support and we’re bloody sorry we couldn’t put the performance out there. Massive respect to Ireland, they took on a massive tour and they’ve been class and deserved the win.”
Bundee Aki is receiving congratulations from Paul O’Connell. How must Paulie feel right now? For so long as a player experience loss both for Ireland and that horrific 2005 Lions tour, he can look upon his work with these forwards and be very satisfied indeed.
@bloodandmud DEFCON 1 in all Irish Pubs all over the world!
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) July 16, 2022
Joy is absolutely unconfined amongst the green shirts as the final whistle blows. Alan Quinlan can barely contain himself on commentary.
What a performance, what a win.
Full-time! New Zealand 22-32 Ireland. History
80 mins IRELAND WIN A SERIES IN NEW ZEALAND!!!
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79.5 mins. In a matter of seconds Ireland are going to win a series in New Zealand.
Peter O’Mahony is already crying.
79 mins. The green attack is confident and up to 11 phases before they kill the ball and NZ will have a penalty, but they have 80 metres to travel to score 10 points in one minute. Not possible.
It’s even less possible when Akira Ioane then knocks on.
78 mins. Ireland have the ball in the All Black 22. Two minutes to history...
77 mins. Carbery claims a loose ball that is then booted miles by Henshaw, after a couple of kicks James Lowe hacks it on and Barrett can only dab it down in-goal. NZ will have to play from their own line.
75 mins. New Zealand are up to a dozen phases in the Irish 22 and the inevitable Irish offside penalty comes. It’s taken as a quick tap and Ireland’s defence must be heads up once more.
Unbelievably, its Tadhg Beirne AGAIN who intervenes to turn it over. What a five minutes for the Munster lock.
Sexton is off for Joey Carbery
73 mins. A promising NZ attack is once again ended by yet another incredible ruck turnover from Beirne. However, it’s classed as a clean rip and not a penalty for holding on and so Ireland’s touchfinder will invite another All Black attack from a lineout.
Seven minutes to defend ten points, can Ireland do it?
72 mins. Oh dear, Rob Herrings throw is all over the shop and the lineout is wasted. All Black scrum coming up.
71 mins. It’s untidy from the All Blacks at the back of the scrum that allows Henshaw to grapple a retreating Fakatava. The next phase it’s a Tadhg Beirne special as he’s on the ball first at the breakdown to win a vital Ireland penalty to clear the ball away.
69 mins. Will Jordan has some daylight up the righ touchline, but is engulfed by the Ireland scramble defence. A few NZ phases force Ireland offside and the home side take the scrum in the shadow of Ireland’s post.
66min. In the midst of all this action there have been subs. For New Zealand Dane Coles has replaced Codie Taylor, Richie Mo’unga is on and Dalton Papali’i has replaced Sam Cane.
Keith Earls replaces Bundee Aki for Ireland.
TRY! New Zealand 22 - 32 Ireland (Rob Herring)
65 mins. A catch and drive is set up before Herring – on fresh for Sheehan – breaks off the back and forces through two NZ tacklers to ground on the line at full stretch.
Amid a chorus of whistles and jeers, Sexton hammers the conversion over.
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63 mins. Another decent Ireland attack from the scrum, Gibson-Park feeding Keenan who comes into the line and find Aki to rumble forward. Savea, who is everywhere, nabs the ball at the back of the ruck, but he was offside. Ireland are in the corner for a lineout
TRY! New Zealand 22 - 25 Ireland (Will Jordan)
60 mins. Ardie Savea pops a pass on his own 22 to Jordan on a glorious out to in angle that cuts through the Ireland line and the winger is in open pasture. No-one is catching his rapid jet legs in that much space and he’s over.
Jordie Barrett misses another conversion.
Folau Fakatava is on for Aaron Smith.
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MISSED PENALTY! New Zealand 17 - 25 Ireland (Johnny Sexton)
58 mins. Sexton tries one from halfway and it sails long and in the right line before bouncing back off the middle of the crossbar! Man alive that was close.
“If Andrew Porter went down holding his head after contact surely the NZ man would have been red carded as he was the attacker?” asks Philip Haran, “Or is the one without the ball always the offender?”
Correct Phil, the responsibility is with the tackler.
PENALTY! New Zealand 17 - 25 Ireland (Johnny Sexton)
54 mins. Ireland have a scrum in the NZ half with six minutes still on the Porter yellow. James Lowe has a strong carry off his wing in midfield and Sam Cane is penalised or hands in the ruck.
It’s straight and just outside the 22 and Sexton wastes no time in taking the lead back out to beyond a converted try. It’s good sign for Ireland that their first real attack garnered points.
TRY! New Zealand 17 - 22 Ireland (Akira Ioane)
52 mins. The brilliant start to the second half for the All Blacks continue with a debut try for Ioane. However, you have to say that should never have been scored as he batted off weak tackles from Sheehan and Van der Flier before be moved into his stride.
Jordie Barrett converts. Ireland need to get a grip of this quickly.
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YELLOW CARD! Andre Porter (Ireland)
Well, well. Ref Barnes rules that it was head contact, there was no player movement mitigation, but that it was not a dominant tackle – that is Porter was absorbing contact rather than driving through it.
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50 mins. A couple of minutes with tactical kicking going back and forth. In the midst of this Retallick is down and it looks like it’s a similar tackle by Porter that saw Angus Ta’avao red carded last week.
48 mins. The game feels like it’s been plugged into a five million megawatt generator as the pace picks up and New Zealand decide that pace and tempo will force Ireland into a place they don’t want to be. After a Beirne intercept looks promising the ball is back with Barrett who clears to touch in the Irish half.
There’s nervous moment for Ireland as the physio takes a look at Sexton, but the captain is good to continue.
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46 mins. Aaron Smith gives Ireland a relieving penalty when he runs though on Gibson-Park when the ball is still in the ruck. Daft. This will put Ireland on the attack on the All Black 22, but Savea who has clearly decided to tolerate no more of this nonsense, clamps on Henshaw to win a penalty.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi, on at half-time for Nepo Laulala, is off for and HIA which will bring Laulala back on.
TRY! New Zealand 10 - 22 Ireland (Ardie Savea)
43 mins. After 23 phases Ardie Savea bumps Beirne and Furlong on the line and manages to squirm over and place the ball.
Jordie Barrett slots the extras for a perfect start to this half for the All Blacks.
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42 mins. New Zealand are on the ball and fire it left through hands for Rieko Ioane to carry into the Ireland half. This is followed by more phases working it left and right before Beauden Barrett is through the line and up to the Ireland 5m line.
They are 18 phases in and camped on the Ireland line with a penalty advantage.
Second Half!
40 mins. Beauden Barrett sends the ball up and with it some hope things get better for his side. They have forty minutes to claw it back
“This is so good” says ORMBarnes, “I had a really bad sleepless night and thought, shall I stay in bed and watch the replay later? Decided to get up. Good decision. Not at all tired now”
Might as well drink through until Sunday now.
Sean Fitzpatrick has just described this NZ performance as “a horror show” and he’s right, especially at lineout. But so much of that is down to Ireland, whose physicality and nous from last week has been paired with improved attacking timing, patterns and execution.
@bloodandmud NZ’s problems seem to be the forwards not being able to cope with the Irish’s. Their backs are lethal but they’re getting so pummelled up front that they’re completely on the back foot. (Cue 4 try’s in 10minutes)
— AndyinBrum 🌻 (@AndyinBrum) July 16, 2022
I’m not sure the backs are looking that lethal either, Andy. NZ were getting more joy when they were kicking - not a huge amount of joy but definitely more than in the last 15 minutes.
However, this is all moot as Ireland are simply a better rugby team physically and tactically at present, as they have been since the start of the game last week.
Half-time! New Zealand 3-22 Ireland
PEEEEEEEP! That’s the end of a very satisfying half if you’re Irish.
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40+1 mins. In a moment that sums up much of the NZ first half, Codie Taylor can’t get his throw straight at the resulting lineout in the Ireland half.
39 mins. The New Zealand response to this is to start chucking it everywhere and losing whatever limited shape they have. This is not the way to go against this Ireland defence who are easily stopping it. But they are a little over-zealous and give away a penalty.
TRY! New Zealand 3 - 22 Ireland (Robbie Henshaw)
37 mins. Ireland go left from the scrum, and a lovely delayed pop from Sexton sends aki through a gap on the angle who then moves it left to Henshaw who has a free run to the line.
Sexton converts and Ireland are completely in charge.
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35 mins. James Ryan nicks a New Zealand lineout, that’s two lost by the home side this half. This allows Keenan to put a testing kick on Jordan who takes it but is stopped dead by the chasing Hansen and on the next possession Tu’ungafasi knocks on.
Ireland scrum in middle of NZ 22 coming; a chance to turn the screw then smash it with a massive hammer before half-time.
33 mins. New Zealand are spraying it around with hand and boot, no doubt realising they are in a situation where this game could get away from them, but Ireland’s defence - Robbie Henshaw in particular - are putting themselves about all over the shop.
PENALTY! New Zealand 3 - 15 Ireland (Johnny Sexton)
31 mins. At a ruck soon after the restart, Beauden Barrett hammers into Porter to clear out illegally. Stupid stuff from the stand-off.
The tee is called for and depsite it being out left and approximately 45 metres out, Sexton nails it.
TRY! New Zealand 3 - 12 Ireland (Hugo Keenan)
29 mins. Ireland run a lovely, dynamic two-wave pattern towards the left touchline, Lowe being stopped by the defence before they reset and run two further patterns which finish with a miss-pass to Keenga who scores in the corner.
Sexton adds the two.
There really is no better team in the world than Ireland at setting and executing such repeated attacking patterns. Wonderful to watch.
Updated
26 mins. Momentum was building in the All Black attack, before Van Der Flier clamps onto Rieko Ioane to claim a ruck penalty. That’s a hugely important intervention to put the brake on a tricky period for Ireland.
25 mins. New Zealand’s kicking game is slowly getting on top of Ireland, the latest from Jordan pinning the visitors back before Sexton finds a poor touch to give possession to the All Blacks on the 22.
PENALTY! New Zealand 3 - 5 Ireland (Jordie Barrett)
23 mins. Ireland frustrate the NZ ruck, but Sexton doesn’t do it legally as he’s pinged for not rolling away. Barrett doesn’t miss this time.
It’s very tight, very even and very nerve wracking for all involved thus far.
20 mins. Dan Sheehan has two runs in the latest Ireland attack and on both his shows his outstanding feet in a small space, stepping tacklers and buying some metres. Possession is not very secure however and as NZ get it back David Havili punts a 50:22 and the All Blacks will have an go in the Irish 22.
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18 mins. James Lowe puts in a massive kick that is very nearly a 50:22. The result from the NZ lineout ends up the same however as the Ireland pack hold up the All Black maul after O’Mahony gets amongst it.
Ireland have repelled a busy few minutes from the home side and will have an attacking scrum platform.
16 mins. What is clear from the opening minutes is that the All Blacks’ plan is to carry close to the ruck then kick via Beauden Barrett. The latest one is a huge one on Keenan than Jordan is this close to claiming, but knocks it on.
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14 mins. Finally, the ball is out and NZ are taking narrow carries up via the forwards sticking close to the ruck. Ireland are deliberately not committing too many player to the breakdown, and they stand so far off one the All Blacks end up knocking on due to their own momentum not being stopped.
12 mins. An NZ scrum, wide right on the Ireland 10m line, is taking an eon to complete.
MISSED PENALTY! New Zealand 0 - 5 Ireland (Jordie Barrett)
9 mins. Bundee Aki and Andrew Porter are both untidy at the ruck and are ruled to be off feet. It’s in front and not too far out so the tee comes on, but Barrett pushes it wide. That’s a horrible miss and NZ are still without points after a decent few minutes.
7 mins. It’s the All Blacks’ turn to have some ball around the half-way line. A few phases are contained by the Irish defence before Beauden Barrett sprays a kick crossfield towards Reece but Hansen disrupts it, albeit with a knock-on.
Another towering kick from Barrett is claimed for the mark by the dependable Hansen and Ireland can clear their lines.
Updated
TRY! New Zealand 0 - 5 Ireland (Josh Van Der Flier)
3 min. Sexton spurns a kickable penalty to put the ball in the corner. It’s claimed in the lineout, the drive is set up and walks over the line for Van Der Flier to flop over and open the scoring.
Three weeks on the bounce Ireland have had a marmalising start.
Sexton pulls the conversion left.
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2 mins. Ireland have the ball back from an Aaron Smith kick and straight away they look dynamic and powerful. Solid tests are getting over the gainline before Caelan Doris puts a lovely step in off his right foot to set them away up the left. Some offloading looks promising but the final pass from O’Mahony is to Beauden Barrett.
Similar opening pattern to last week from the the visitors.
Kick off!
1 min. Wayne Barnes gives us a loud blast, prompting Johnny Sexton to boot the ball the long and the decider is underway.
Aaron Smith has tears streaming down his face God Defend New Zealand rings around the stadium, in case you were wondering how much this game means to the home side. He wipes his face and leads the Haka.
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Here come the teams.
Sexton, mouthguard sticking out of his mouth and the usual fuming expression on his phizog, leads the Ireland squad out followed by Sam Cane and the All Blacks to a cacophany of noise.
Springsteen song email!
“It’s not my favourite , but surely for this game it’s ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’?” asks David Parry.”
Tonight I’ll be on that hill ‘cause I can’t stop, I’ll be on that hill with everything I’ve got, With our lives on the line where dreams are found and lost, I’ll be there on time and I’ll pay the cost for wanting things that can only be found, In the darkness on the edge of town
Yep, that works (and it’s one of my favourites)
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Andy Farrell is chatting to Sky TV.
“We’re excited, this is where we want to be. We’ll get them at their best and that’s what we want, you want to test yourself against the best. We’re fit and ready don’t worry about that.”
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Very late team news.
Scott Barrett is out of the All Black line-up after a flare up of a injury sustained earlier in the week. Akira Ioane is promoted to start at blind-side and Tupou Vaai moves onto the bench.
Reading while you wait
What does all these new losing experiences mean for New Zealand? Here’s Liam Napier with more on that.
Tell me all about your troubles, woes, thoughts, fears and favourite Springsteen track either on the Emither or tweet away @bloodandmud
Teams
Sam Whitelock, sorely missed last week, returns at lock for New Zealand in move that pushes Scott Barrett to the flank. David Havili is at inside-centre, Will Jordan is on the wing and RL convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on the bench.
Andy Farrell makes only one change to the victorious starting XV with Bundee Aki in for the injured Gary Ringrose. Keith Earls is back among the subs.
New Zealand: Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Sevu Reece; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; George Bower, Codie Taylor, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Akira Ioane, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.
Replacements: Dane Coles, Aidan Ross, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tupou Vaai, Dalton Papalii, Folau Fakatava, Richie Mo’unga, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Keith Earls.
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Preamble
Welcome one and all to the deciding test of the series in Wellington.
After last week’s first of victory in New Zealand, Ireland must find another never seen before moment vs their opponents today - a back to back win. Andy Farrell’s men may have bested four of the last seven matches between the teams after a century of being on the runny end of the result; but a WW in the results column still eludes them. And how New Zealand will be bristling with fury in their desire to prevent that from happening.
The curious thing in the previous two meetings is that, red cards aside, both teams have broadly put in a similar performance. Ireland busy and creative, making enough dents up front and with territorial kicking to make the All Blacks reel a bit. New Zealand fitful and a little disjointed, but with enough dog in their scramble defence and pizazz in broken play or on counter to frustrate and indeed take the game. In week one, the latter won out while Dunedin saw the former smother the home side. That and all those cards. So many cards.
It’s fascinating to consider what will emerge dominant today. Andy Farrell is under no illusion that “[New Zealand] will be hurting, we know that they bounce back unbelievably strong.”
Ructions incoming.
