Ireland 18-38 New Zealand

Ireland 18-38 New Zealand

Ireland (13) 18
Tries: Ferris, O'Driscoll Pens: Sexton 2 Cons: Sexton
New Zealand (19) 38
Tries: Boric, Read 2, Whitelock Pens: Carter 4 Cons: Carter 3
Sam Whitelock

Highlights - Ireland 18-38 New Zealand
By Richard Petrie

The all-conquering All Blacks continued their winning form with a convincing victory over a plucky Ireland side.

New Zealand led 19-13 at half-time thanks to an Anthony Boric try and 14 points from the boot of Dan Carter.

Stephen Ferris scored Ireland's try and Jonathan Sexton kicked eight points but the Kiwis pulled away after the break.

Kieran Read scored two tries and Sam Whitelock one, Carter converting two, while Brian O'Driscoll touched down for Ireland's only second-half points.

New Zealand were defending a record of 22 wins and one draw from 23 matches against Ireland and looking to add to their tally of 17 wins from their last 18 Tests.

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O'Driscoll focuses on positives

Irish coach Declan Kidney made 11 changes from the side which defeated Samoa last week and gave the team which lost to South Africa an opportunity to redeem itself, minus the injured Tony Buckley.

The All Blacks line-up showed six changes from that which demolished Scotland last week, with injured lock Brad Thorn being replaced by Boric.

The Tri-Nations champions dominated the early possession and territory and were rewarded when Carter knocked over a penalty in the seventh minute following an infringement by Irish prop Cian Healy.

Sexton replied with a long-range penalty four minutes later to level the scores but Carter kicked his second penalty of the game on 16 minutes after Tommy Bowe failed to roll away from the tackle.

Ireland produced some enterprising running rugby, Eoin Reddan seeing his attacking kick charged down after the scrum-half had made an incisive run.

The home side's industry was rewarded when Sexton landed his second penalty of the game in the 26th minute to restore parity, but Carter nudged the Kiwis ahead three minutes later with another successful kick.

606: DEBATE
Very good performance from Ireland but at the end of the day just not good enough

GoldenGenerationHasOnlyBegun

Ferris had the Dublin crowd on their feet when he crossed the New Zealand line for his first try in 23 Tests in the 31st minute.

A fine flowing move ended with Jamie Heaslip feeding the ball cleverly to flanker Ferris, who charged over the line for the try, Sexton converting.

Man-of-the-match Carter was again on-target with a 36th-minute penalty to reduce his side's deficit to one point.

The All Blacks went in ahead at half-time thanks to Boric's try in the closing minute of the opening period.

Ireland failed to hold onto the ball and their opponents went through the phases before Boric dived over to score.

Fly-half Carter converted to make it 19-13 at the interval.

The All Blacks started the second half well and Read thundered over for a touchdown in the 45th minute after some fast play through the hands by the visitors. Carter added the two points.

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It was a great Test match - Henry

Three minutes later, replacement second row Whitelock crossed the line for his side's third try with his first touch of the ball.

New Zealand attacked with pace and the stretched Irish defence was unable to cope, Whitelock going over in the corner and Carter maintaining his 100 per cent record with a third conversion.

The Irish regrouped and responded with a 56th-minute try by captain O'Driscoll.

Rob Kearney and Heaslip made ground and when the ball ran loose the Ireland centre picked up and managed to roll over and apply pressure on the ball despite the attention of two All Black tacklers.

Sexton's conversion rebounded tantalisingly off the upright.

An entertaining and open game continued at a frantic pace, with the hosts matching their illustrious opponents for physicality.

Keith Earls almost scored his side's third try in the 74th minute but the television match official adjudged that the ball had touched the goal-line as the Munster back grounded.

Read completed a consummate performance by his side with his second try in the final minute of the match, although Carter was unable to add the conversion.

Ireland: 15-Robert Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Luke Fitzgerald, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Eoin Reddan; 1-Cian Healy, 2-Rory Best, 3-Tom Court, 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 5-Mick O'Driscoll, 6-Stephen Ferris, 7-David Wallace, 8-Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-John Hayes, 18-Devin Toner, 19-Denis Leamy, 20-Peter Stringer, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Keith Earls.

New Zealand: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Cory Jane, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 11-Hosea Gear, 10-Daniel Carter, 9-Andy Ellis; 1-Tony Woodcock, 2-Hikawera Elliot, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Anthony Boric, 5-Tom Donnelly, 6-Jerome Kaino, 7-Richie McCaw, 8-Kieran Read.

Replacements: 16-Andrew Hore, 17-John Afoa, 18-Sam Whitelock 19-Liam Messam, 20-Alby Mathewson, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Sonny Bill Williams.

Referee: Marius Jonker (England)



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